Abstract
Depression is most frequently and highly occurring common mental disorder in HIV/AIDS patients especially youth living with HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among youth living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attending Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) follow-up at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Objective. To assess the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among youth living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attending Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) follow-up at public hospitals Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016. Method. In a cross sectional study, 507 HIV-positive young people from public health hospitals were recruited by systematic random sampling technique. Beck Depression Inventory-II was used to assess depressive symptoms. Morisky medication adherence rating scale, social support rating scale, and HIV stigma scale were the instruments used to assess the associated factors. Results. Prevalence of depressive symptoms among HIV-positive youth was 35.5% (95% CI:31.3, 39.6). In multivariate analysis, age range between 20 and 24 years with (AOR=2.22, 95% CI: 1.33,3.62), history of opportunistic infection (AOR=1.94, 95% CI:1.15,3.27), poor medication adherence (AOR=1.73, 95%CI:1.13,2.64, low social support (AOR=2.74, 95%CI:1.13,2.64), moderate social support (AOR=1.75 95% CI: 1.03,2.98), and stigma (AOR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.35,3.14) were associated with depressive symptoms. The results suggest that prevalence of depressive symptoms among HIV-positive youth was high. Prevention of opportunistic infection, stigma, and counseling for good medication adherence are necessary among HIV-positive youth.
Highlights
According to DSM-5 depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest, decreased energy, feeling of guilt, or low selfworth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and poor concentration [1]
There is an evidence of significant comorbidity in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) including depression [4, 5]
Substance use may increase risk of HIV infection and AIDS and interfere with their treatment, and some mental disorders occur as a direct result of HIV infection
Summary
According to DSM-5 depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest (pleasure), decreased energy, feeling of guilt, or low selfworth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and poor concentration [1]. HIV/AIDS is a chronic infectious disease and first leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide from an infectious disease. An estimated 5 million young people aged 15-24 years are living with HIV, vast majority in sub-Saharan Africa [2]. Depressive disorders were the third leading cause of global burden of disease in 2004 and will be the first by 2030. Depression is number one cause of illness and disability among youth [3,4,5,6,7].Youth and young adults account for a large percentage of all HIV/AIDS cases in Ethiopia [8]. There is an evidence of significant comorbidity in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) including depression [4, 5]
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