Prevalence and Severity of Depression among People Living with HIV/AIDS in a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Despite the availability of modern interventions in human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immune deficiency syndrome Anti (HIV/AIDS) care, depression remains the commonest mental disorder affecting people living with HIV/AIDS. There are few studies on its prevalence among HIV/AIDS patients in the sub-Sahara. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, severity of Depression and associated risk factors among adult patients attending the HIV clinic in a tertiary hospital. This descriptive crosssectional study recruited 264 eligible adult patients attending and receiving treatment in a tertiary hospital in South -West Nigeria by systematic random sampling technique. The validated Patient Health, Duke University of North Carolina functional social support questionnaires were used as interviewer-administered tools. The study revealed 14.4% prevalence of depression, with the mild category (9.5%) as the predominant subtype. Factors associated with the risk of developing depression were: being bereaved, a poor adherence to antiretroviral medication and a poor level of social support. The level of social support was observed as good in 249 (94.3%) respondents and poor in 15 (5.7%) respondents. Depression is a common condition among people living with HIV/AIDS. Mild Depression was the prevalent subtype accounting for 9.5% of the proportion of depressed cases. Social support and non-adherence to medications were cited as major predictors for Depression. It is recommended that screening for depression among HIV/AIDS patients in the clinics be a routine. The importance of ensuring mechanisms in place for sustainability of the AIDS preventive initiative of Nigeria in all participating areas cannot be over emphasised.

Key words: Depression severity, social support, people living with HIV/AIDS