Predictors of depression among patients seeking Antiretroviral Therapy (ARVs)

Abstract

The entire study was summarized below: Objectives: To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with depression among patients seeking ARV's at UNITID treatment clinics. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participant and setting: Patients seeking ARVs at five UNITID treatment clinics, University staff health, Kangemi, Tigoni, Pumwani and Majengo. Measurements: The primary outcome was symptoms of depression, as measured by Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the association of age, gender, symptoms and .. opportunistic infection related to HIV i.e. wasting, shingles, pneumonia, thrush, disclosure of HIV status to parent, spouse, child, relative, and friend, being affected with HIV, CD4 T lymphocytes versus depression. Results: Among 159 patients, 49(30.8%) respondents screened positive for depression. Variables associated with depression in multivariate analysis included oral thrush adjusted odds ratio 2.57(95%: 1.08, 6.12), p-value = 0.032, Wasting, adjusted odds ratio 3.88(95%; 1.63-9.21),p-value = 0.002. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression found in this study is an indicator that patients seeking ARVs are depressed. Oral thrush and wasting are the only factors associated with depression.