Exploring the impact of meditation therapy on CD4 levels in HIV/AIDS patients at Karawang hospital
Journal Title: Svāsthya: Trends in General Medicine and Public Health - Year 2024, Vol 1, Issue 2
Abstract
The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a significant global health concern, with increasing prevalence in Indonesia's Karawang Regency. People living with HIV/AIDS face numerous challenges, including a decline in immune function and CD4 T-cell depletion. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the primary treatment, there is a growing interest in complementary therapies to support immune function and overall well-being. This study aimed to investigate the effect of meditation therapy on CD4 levels in HIV/AIDS patients at Karawang Regional General Hospital. A quasiexperimental study with a prepost design was conducted on 15 HIV/AIDS patients with CD4 levels ranging from 200–500 cells/mm3. The participants engaged in meditation sessions twice a week, twice daily, for one month. CD4 levels were measured before and after the intervention. Demographic data were collected, and statistical analyses were performed via paired t tests (p<0.05). Most of the participants were male (80%), aged 31-37 years (46.7%), and had a vocational high school education (40%). Preintervention CD4 levels ranged from 226 to 459 cells/mm3 (mean: 334.87±57.583), whereas postintervention levels ranged from 220 to 467 cells/mm3 (mean: 340.93±62.721). A paired t test revealed no statistically significant effect of meditation therapy on CD4 levels (p=0.150). This study revealed no significant increase in CD4 levels following a one-month meditation intervention in HIV/AIDS patients. While this research does not support the use of short-term meditation therapy to increase CD4 levels in HIV/AIDS patients, it underscores the need for further investigation of complementary therapies for this population.
Authors and Affiliations
Dea Dea Department of Midwifery and Midwifery Profession, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Medistra Indonesia https://orcid. org/0009-0001-3084-4066 Marni Br Karo Department of Midwifery and Midwifery Profession, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Medistra Indonesia https://orcid. org/0000-0002-3611-3387 Puri Kresna Wati Department of Midwifery and Midwifery Profession, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Medistra Indonesia https://orcid. org/0009-0003-7491-4198
Keywords
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- EP ID EP748065
- DOI 10.70347/svsthya.v1i2.20
- Views 1
- Downloads 0
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