HIV or HIV-Therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIV

Table 2 Comparison of women (n = 78) and men (n = 90) on the 20 most common symptoms: Frequency of attribution to HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART), total frequency and mean severity (scale from 0 -3)

Symptom	HIV (%)		ART (%)		Total (%)		Severity M ± SD
	women	men	women	men	women	men	women	men
Fatigue	19**	40**	24*	11*	82	78	1.69 ± 1.05	1.50 ± 0.99
Lack of energy	24*	41*	18	11	74	74	1.56 ± 1.13	1.42 ± 1.03
Mood swings	22	17	9	9	72	62	1.40 ± 1.14	1.13 ± 1.08
Dry skin	9	10	23	26	67	66	1.29 ± 1.08	1.24 ± 1.11
Intestinal gas	6	6	30	32	63	63	1.27 ± 1.15	1.22 ± 1.11
Fat loss from limbs/buttocks/face	5*	16*	42	37	56	67	1.26 ± 1.24	1.36 ± 1.23
Sleep disturbances	10	14	19	14	63	60	1.17 ± 1.16	1.20 ± 1.12
Depressed feelings	22	17	10	11	63	59	1.23 ± 1.16	1.07 ± 1.10
Loss of stamina	26	30	9	11	60	61	1.18 ± 1.16	1.20 ± 1.12
Lethargy	18	27	14	11	59	60	1.15 ± 1.15	1.11 ± 1.08
Pain/numbness in hands/feet	12	19	19	19	56	61	1.17 ± 1.18	1.17 ± 1.09
Prominent veins	3*	12*	32	29	49	62	1.10 ± 1.25	1.31 ± 1.19
Lack of interest in sex	14	14	13	23	54	62	1.00 ± 1.23	1.13 ± 1.05
Difficulties concentrating	17	26	18*	7*	56	52	1.05 ± 1.07	0.78 ± 1.07
Night sweats	24	24	8	12	50	58	0.85 ± 1.01	1.02 ± 1.04
Diarrhea	8	14	25	28	47	57	0.82 ± 1.00	1.09 ± 1.09
Headache	10	8	8	24	50	56	0.91 ± 1.07	0.89 ± 0.98
Skin itching	9	11	18	23	47	57	0.81 ± 0.98	0.94 ± 1.01
Fat gain in abdomen	1	7	32	26	51	56	1.03 ± 1.14	0.84 ± 1.07
Muscle aches	6	9	21	14	45	50	0.92 ± 1.16	0.79 ± 0.93

Chi square test indicates significant difference between men and women at: *p < .05 and **p < .01

ISSN: 2047-783X