OBJECTIVETo investigate the social health status of the HIV infected and their families in a high HIV/AIDS prevalence village in Hunan province and to examine the relations of the social health status, responses and social support.

METHODSA total of 51 HIV infected persons (infected group), 49 family members of the infected (family member group) and 96 normal persons (control group) were surveyed by Social Health Measurement Scale-a sub-scale of Self-rated Health Measurement Scale (SRHMS), Social Support Assessment Scale (SSAS) and Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ).

RESULTS(1) In regard to the total scores of social health, responding style and social support, significant differences were found among the infected group, the group of family members and the control group (62.9 +/- 18.6, 79.8 +/- 18.0, 86.5 +/- 21.3, F = 18.16; 28.7 +/- 4.3, 27.2 +/- 5.4, 25.9 +/- 6.4, F = 5.21; 33.8 +/- 8.1, 41.0 +/- 6.6, 38.1 +/- 6.8, F = 13.23; P < 0.01). (2) Subjective care and support, the educational status, the marital status and support utilization were significant predictors to the social health status of the infected group (R(2) = 0.73, F = 27.78, P < 0.01). (3) Subjective support and negative responding style were significant predictors to the social health status of the group of family members (R(2) = 0.32, F = 12.35, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe HIV infected and their families have more negative responding style, make less use of social support and hold a inferior social health status. It's necessary to exert psychological intervention targeting at these population group.