Browsing by Author "Nicholas Mwebaze"

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Implications of aerobic exercise on clinical outcomes of HIV positive clients in Uganda: a case of general military hospital-Bombo
    (Kyambogo University [unpublished work], 2024) Nicholas Mwebaze
    Aerobic exercise may be a helpful treatment for a variety of ART side effects and symptoms, according to studies from both healthy individuals and those with various chronic illnesses. The use of aerobic exercise to address the symptoms, and undesirable side effects that lower the quality of life for people with chronic HIV infection is currently being investigated. This study's primary goal was to determine how aerobic exercise affected the clinical outcomes of HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Uganda. It further aimed at evaluating the effect of a 12 weeks aerobic exercise on immunological measures, functional work capacity and psychological markers of HIV positive clients on ART in Uganda. The study, conducted at the General Military Hospital in Uganda, employed a quasi-experimental design. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and a sample of 135 people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy engaged in the study. Quantitative data was analyzed using t-tests, revealing significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms among participants. The participants were divided into two groups at random: Group 1, which received a moderately intense aerobic exercise program for twelve weeks, and Group 2, which received no treatment. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) was used to screen both groups. Clinical outcomes, like: immunological measurements, were then evaluated using Clusters of Differentiation 4 (CD4), Functional work capacity using Rate of Perceived Extortion (RPE)/ Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) and psychological markers using a questionnaire. The aerobic exercise intervention was administered to the experimental group for twelve weeks. Members of the control group were called weekly to make a follow up on them during the 12 weeks and ensure that they did not feel left out of the survey. Following the completion of the 12-week post-test, the results showed that: (i) aerobic exercises significantly increased the CD4 count in experimental group with an average mean of 29.7% and a p=0.001; (ii) It had a statistically significant effect the functional work capacity of HIV positive clients on ART with p<0.001 which was less than initial p= 0.05, a decreased heart rate, significantly improved VO 2 max from 25.13 ml/kg/min to 34.19 ml/kg/min and (iii) it also had significant effect on psychological markers indicating a decrease in paranoid ideation, depression, neuroticism, anxiety, and phobia in HIV positive clients on ART with p-value<0.001. Therefore, well-structured supervised 12 weeks moderate intensity aerobic exercises at a tempo of 120-150 beats per minute improved CD4 cell in the body of HIV positive clients on ART. It also improved the clinical outcomes of people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. It is recommended that aerobic exercise be used as an additional therapy in the care and treatment of HIV positive clients on ART in Uganda by adding it in the HIV care and treatment guidelines. There is also need to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on other clinical outcome like viral load, body composition and adherence to drugs.