Managing pain in women living with HIV/AIDS

This study tested an intervention program based on a chronic pain management model for pain. We conducted a trial of a 6-week, peer-led exercise and education intervention on pain in amaXhosa women living with HIV/AIDS. Participants were monitored over 15 months of routine care before randomization. The control group was provided with educational workbooks, and the experimental group attended the intervention. Pain was reassessed monthly for 4 months. There was no significant reduction in pain during 15 months of routine care and no difference between groups at any of the time points (d = 0.04). Both groups experienced equivalent pain reduction during the intervention compared with the period of routine care with meaningful reductions in pain at months 3 (Cohen's d = 0.41) and 4 (Cohen's d = 0.59). Provision of a workbook and participating in a 6-week peer-led exercise and education intervention are efficacious methods to treat pain in amaXhosa women living with HIV/AIDS.