Prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety among people living with HIV on follow up at Wolkite University specialized teaching Hospital and Worabe comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2023: Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Globally, HIV/AIDS is a significant burden and public health issue, and two-thirds of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) reside in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia also has a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. Compared to those without HIV/AIDS, people living with HIV/ AIDS have a higher prevalence of mental problems, especially depression and anxiety. Even if HIV/AIDS care is now updated with time, the diagnosis and treatment of depression and anxiety among PLWHA are not taken into consideration. Objective: The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety among PLWHA attending ART clinics at WKUSTH and WCSH, Southern Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: A multi-center institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 190 PLWHA attending ART clinics at WKUSTH and WCSH from May 17 - June 18, 2023. Data was entered into Epi Data Manager Version 4.2 and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26. Binary logistic regression was used to check for the significant association between an outcome variable and an explanatory variable, association by chi-square, whereas significance specifically by regression. Multiple logistic regression model was used and variables with a P-value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant variables. Result: A total of 177 participants were included in the study with a 93% response rate. The prevalence of depression and anxiety among PLWHA attending ART clinics at WKUSTH and WCSH were 53(29.9 %) and 49(27.67%) respectively. This study confirmed that sex, [AOR= 0.153;95% CI (0.035-0.657)], social support, [AOR=8.775; 95% CI (1.035-74.381)], internalized stigma [AOR=8.047; 95% CI (2.576-25.136)], ART regimen, [AOR=0.144; 95% CI (0.027-0.777)], were associated only with depression, and monthly income [AOR=6.995; 95% CI(1.056-46.351)], and opportunistic infection, [AOR=0.351; 95% CI (0.133-0.925)] were associated only with anxiety. Conclusion and recommendation: More than one-fourth of the study participants were found to have depression. Age, occupation, and marital status were significantly associated with depression. There were also significant associations between age, occupation, marital status with anxiety. Timely recognition and treatment of depression and anxiety better for reducing depression and anxiety in x PLWHA at ART clinic and mental healthcare and screening for depression and anxiety better include