A new study conducted in Jos, Nigeria, has found that a high prevalence of depression exists among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are on antiretroviral therapy. According to the study, depression can lead to poor outcomes during antiretroviral therapy, and current evidence suggests high rates of depression among PLHIV, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The study was conducted among 592 consenting, randomly selected adult PLHIV receiving treatment at a university teaching hospital in Jos, Nigeria, in 2022, using the PHQ-9 questionnaire and an interviewer-administered sociodemographic questionnaire.
Methods
The study found that depression was highly prevalent among study participants, with 44.9% of them affected. The study also revealed that being male, being employed, and earning a moderate monthly income were significantly associated with reduced odds of depression. Specifically, being male, having formal employment, and earning a monthly income of ₦50,000–100,000 ($65–130) and >₦100,000–200,000(>$130–260) were significantly associated with reduced odds of depression.
Results
The study’s findings suggest that PLHIV categories with a relatively higher likelihood of depression may benefit from targeted mental health support systems, in addition to other mental health management strategies generally available to PLHIV. The significant association of being male, having formal employment, and earning a moderate monthly income with reduced odds of depression may have implications for policy and strategies for managing mental health issues among PLHIV in cosmopolitan areas like Jos, which face peculiar challenges such as cultural tensions, traffic congestion, and gentrification.
Conclusions
This hospital-based, cross-sectional study provides valuable insights into the sociodemographic factors associated with depression among PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy in a Nigerian cosmopolitan city. The study’s findings may help inform policy and strategies for managing mental health issues among PLHIV in similar settings.
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