Predictors of depression among people living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy attending tertiary care hospitals in the Capital of Uttar Pradesh: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: HIV/AIDS is one of the most devastating illnesses that humanity has ever faced. Depression in HIV/AIDS patients is very common but the factors affecting it are not well studied. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the prevalence and the predictors of depression among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to March 2014 at antiretroviral therapy centers of two tertiary care hospitals in Lucknow and a total of 322 adult HIV patients on antiretroviral treatment for at least 6 months were interviewed with the help of a predesigned and pretested schedule. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit the patients. Becks depression inventory was used to measure depression. Results: About one-fifth (18.6%) of the patients were having depressive symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that depression was significantly associated with female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 3.45; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.50–7.90; P = 0.00), counseling gap more than 3 months (OR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.14–4.21; P = 0.04), nonadherence to treatment (OR: 2.66; 95% CI: 1.47–6.19; P = 0.02), and socioeconomic status upper lower and below (OR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.12–4.21; P = 0.04). Conclusions: Low socioeconomic status, female gender, long counseling gaps more than 3 months, and nonadherence to treatment were found to be important predictors of depression. Therefore, there is a need of timely assessment of the PLHA for depression to ensure early detection and management to maintain optimal adherence to the treatment.

Keywords

• Antiretroviral therapy
• depression
• HIV/AIDS
• people living with HIV/AIDS
• predictors
• prevalence