Physical and psychosocial aspects of healthy ageing and HIV status among older adults in South Africa

The study aimed to assess the prevalence by type of psychosocial associations with healthy ageing among older adults by HIV status in South Africa. We analysed data from the 2017 South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour, and Communication Survey. This was a national cross-sectional household survey, including 7 596 older adults (≥ 50 years, median age = 60 years). Results indicated that the prevalence of healthy ageing was 25.9%, 19.9% among HIV-positive and 26.8% among HIV-negative persons. Of the participants, 49.1% self-reported no major disease and 93.0% reported no disability. Furthermore, 63.9% of the participants reported to be in good mental health, and 65.9% reported good overall health. Male sex and higher education were positively associated. Further, an HIV-positive status, older age, widowed, African black population group, and urban residence were negatively associated with overall healthy ageing. The study found a lower prevalence of healthy ageing among older persons with HIV compared to persons without HIV, which was associated with poorer mental health self-perceptions among those living with HIV.