Prevalence and associations of depression, anxiety, and stress among people living with HIV: A hospital‐based analytical cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Background and Aims An important but much less researched burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Sub‐Saharan Africa includes the associated mental health outcomes of living with the virus. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, and describe some of the socio‐demographic associations among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Ghana. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Simple random sampling was used to recruit 395 PLHIV who access HIV‐related services at the antiretroviral therapy clinic. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale‐21 was used to assess prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress. Frequencies and percentages were used to estimate the prevalence and multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate sociodemographic factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Results The prevalence estimates of depression, anxiety, and stress among PLHIV were 28.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.4–33.3), 40.8% (95% CI = 36.0–45.8), and 10.6% (95% CI = 7.9–14.1), respectively. Females reported higher prevalence of depression (32.2%; 95% CI = 27.2–37.7), anxiety (44.0%; 95% CI = 38.4–49.6), and stress (12.6%; 95% CI = 9.4–17.0) compared to depression (17.5%; 95% CI = 11.1–26.4), anxiety (30.9%; 95% CI = 22.5–40.7), and stress (4.1%; 95% CI = 1.2–10.4) among males. PLHIV without a regular partner were about 0.63 increased odds of experiencing anxiety compared to those with a regular partner (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.40–1.00: p = 0.049). PLHIV without formal education were about 0.49 and 0.44 increased odds to experience anxiety and stress, respectively compared to those with tertiary education. Conclusions Generally, the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression are high among PLHIV, but disproportionately higher among females. Mental health assessment and management should be integrated into the HIV care services. There should be capacity building for health care workers to offer differentiated service delivery based on mental health care needs of PLHIV.

Percepciones, maltrato y religión como predictores del impacto psicoemocional en enfermeros durante la pandemia COVID-19

“…Otro hallazgo de este estudio fue que las personas que profesan la religión evangélica y los agnósticos (quienes no profesan ninguna religión) presentan mayor puntaje de estrés, ansiedad y depresión en comparación con quienes se consideran católicos. Este hallazgo discrepa con un estudio realizado en Ghana durante la pandemia por covid-19, en el cual reportan que no existe diferencias entre el porcentaje de pobladores que presentan estrés, ansiedad y depresión según el tipo de religión que profesan (cristianos, islámicos y agnósticos) (31) . Es probable que esta diferencia sea debido a las diferencias culturales entre países latinoamericanos y africanos.…”

Decrypting biological hallmarks of aging in people with HIV

“…Inequities related to race, socioeconomic status, sex identity, and sexual orientation are risk factors associated with accelerated aging, which may be further exacerbated in PLWH [26,27]. Cultural and epidemiological stigmatism related to both age and HIV status can contribute to disproportionate access to healthcare, impede optimal time to diagnosis, and lead to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and stress [28]. Culturally informed and comprehensive social services need to be an essential part in the continuum of care for older PLWH to mitigate health disparities that can contribute to variations in biological age progression.…”

“…The population of people living with HIV is shifting towards an older demographic and consequentially are at heightened risks for comorbidities, multimorbidity, and geriatric syndrome. contribute to disproportionate access to healthcare, impede optimal time to diagnosis, and lead to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and stress [28]. Culturally informed and comprehensive social services need to be an essential part in the continuum of care for older PLWH to mitigate health disparities that can contribute to variations in biological age progression.…”

Mental health burden among females living with HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review

“…Higher rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms have been reported amongst FLWHA in several studies [ 3 – 7 ]. For instance, 82% of survey respondents in a study of 832 FLWHA from 94 countries reported having symptoms of depression, and participants indicated that their mental health concerns rose 3.5-fold after receiving an HIV diagnosis [ 14 ].…”

“…Mental health conditions affect females living with HIV and AIDS (FLWHA) at substantially higher rates compared with men living with HIV and AIDS (MLWHA) and HIV-negative women [3][4][5][6]. Thus, the established gender disparity in mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety is disproportionately increased in the context of HIV and AIDS [7].…”