Main Article Content
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection among Psychiatric Patients Admitted into a Nigerian Teaching Hospital
Abstract
Background: Psychiatric patients are considered high risked group for Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This has been found to be as a result of poor judgment and irrationality associated with some of the disorders. However, there is dearth of literature on the prevalence of HIV infection among psychiatric inpatients in this part of the world, hence, the need for the current study.
Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among psychiatric inpatients in a tertiary health institution in a North Eastern state of Nigeria. It also determined factors associatedwith increase risk among this population.
Methods: Three hundred and twenty consented adult psychiatric patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited into the study. Their socio-demographic, risk behaviors and clinical parameters were obtained. Their blood samples were also collected for HIV test using Enzyme-
Linked Immunosobent Assay (ELISA) method.
Results: The prevalence of HIV infection was found to be 6.9% in the studied population. Factors 2 found to be associated with infection by the virus were older age (X = 8.57, p-value= 0.036), none single marital status (X2= 9.80, p-value= 0.020), having multiple sexual partners (X2= 14.03, p-
value= 0.0001), long duration of psychiatric illness (X2= 15.72, p-value= 0.008) and diagnoses of 2 mood disorders and substance use disorders (X = 18.47, p-value=0.002).
Conclusion: The study underscored the high rate of HIV infection among psychiatric patients. It also highlighted the factors that may be associated with this increased rate. It is recommended that HIV status of psychiatric patients be tested to help in the management and prevention of HIV infection.
Key words: Psychiatric Disorders, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection.
Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among psychiatric inpatients in a tertiary health institution in a North Eastern state of Nigeria. It also determined factors associatedwith increase risk among this population.
Methods: Three hundred and twenty consented adult psychiatric patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited into the study. Their socio-demographic, risk behaviors and clinical parameters were obtained. Their blood samples were also collected for HIV test using Enzyme-
Linked Immunosobent Assay (ELISA) method.
Results: The prevalence of HIV infection was found to be 6.9% in the studied population. Factors 2 found to be associated with infection by the virus were older age (X = 8.57, p-value= 0.036), none single marital status (X2= 9.80, p-value= 0.020), having multiple sexual partners (X2= 14.03, p-
value= 0.0001), long duration of psychiatric illness (X2= 15.72, p-value= 0.008) and diagnoses of 2 mood disorders and substance use disorders (X = 18.47, p-value=0.002).
Conclusion: The study underscored the high rate of HIV infection among psychiatric patients. It also highlighted the factors that may be associated with this increased rate. It is recommended that HIV status of psychiatric patients be tested to help in the management and prevention of HIV infection.
Key words: Psychiatric Disorders, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection.
