Social Support and Fatigue on Adults Living with HIV/AIDS at a Central Hospital in Zimbabwe: A Correlational Study

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between social support and fatigue on people living with HIV/AIDS stage 3 and 4, Harare Central Hospital in Harare. The study sought to answer whether social support mitigates fatigue in people living with HIV.A descriptive correlational study design was used in this study. Systematic interval sampling was used to select 80 ambulatory adults, 25 to 50 years old living with HIV/AIDS at stage 3 and 4. Data were obtained through a structured interview questionnaire.The Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient between social support and fatigue was (r=-0.66; p<0.01. This implied that as social support increased, fatigue among people living with HIV/AIDS decreased. The coefficient of determination, R² = 0.44 (F=60.4) indicated that social support was responsible for 44% of the variation in fatigue. The regression analysis was statistically significant as evidenced by a significant Fisher statistic. On the other hand (β=-0.8, SEB=0.11) implied that for every unit increase in social support, fatigue decreased by 0.8.Social support may be instrumental in enhancing functioning of the four adaptation modes crafted by Roy in the adaptation model which are physiologic components, self-concept, role function and interdependence. With enough support, adaptation is possible at every stage that is from tiredness to exhaustion.