Factors Affecting Social Support Status of People Living with HIV/AIDS at Selected Hospitals of North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Globally, millions of people are affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Acquired immunodeficiency was linked with psychosocial problems, whereby stigma and discrimination are the most common. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the level of the social support problem in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) and factors associated with it at selected hospitals of North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. METHOD: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 422 PLHIV were involved in the study. A multidimensional perceived social support scale (MPSSS) for the measurement of social support problems was implemented. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit the study population after selecting study areas by lottery methods. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed via SPSS software. The statistical association was declared at a p value of less than 0.05 in the final model. RESULT: The prevalence of poor social support among study participants was 12.6%. Poor adherence to their antiretrovirus drugs was highly associated with poor social support (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.36, 3.13). Moreover, psychological distress (AOR = 4.67, 95% CI: 2.02, 10.81) and perceived stigma (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.70) were positively associated. CONCLUSION: The burden of poor social support is increasingly affecting the lives of PLHIV. Poor social support in PLHIV is more magnified by poor adherence, having psychological distress, and perceived stigma.

Suicidal ideation and attempt among people living with HIV/AIDS in selected public hospitals: Central Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. HIV/AIDS continues to be associated with an under-recognized risk for suicidal behavior. Suicidal behavior among people living with HIV/AIDS is not only a predictor of future attempted suicide and completed suicide, but it is also associated with poor quality of life and poor adherence with antiretroviral therapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt and associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in selected public hospitals of Amhara region, central Ethiopia. METHODS: Institutional based cross-sectional study design was employed. The study was conducted in four public hospitals in North Shewa Zone from May to December 2017. Study population comprised all HIV-infected individuals from Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinic. A total of 348 study subjects were recruited using systematic random sampling and 326 completed the interview. Suicidality module from Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was modified to assess suicidal behavior. Crude and adjusted OR was analyzed using logistic regression and the level of significance of association was determined at P value < 0.05. RESULT: A total of 326 (93.7%) study subjects were interviewed. The magnitude of suicidal ideation and attempt was found to be 16% and 7.1%, respectively. Low monthly income, living alone, suicidal thought before knowing seropositive status, family history of suicide, experiencing mild and moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety symptoms, being gossiped sometimes in the last 12 months of the study period due to HIV status and ever use of khat (a psychoactive substance) was statistically significant associated factor with suicidal ideation. And low monthly income, experiencing mild and moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety symptoms, being gossiped sometimes and often in the previous 12 months of the study period due to HIV status and using alcohol currently were significantly associated factors with suicidal attempt. CONCLUSION: Suicidal ideation and attempt among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in this study were higher than prevalence in the general population. This shows suicidal ideation and attempt is a mental health concern of PLWHA and it needs great attention in Ethiopia.

Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among patients with diabetes mellitus at Tirunesh-Beijing general hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Depression is one of the common and overwhelming mental disorder in diabetic patients. A little is known about the prevalence and associated factors of depression among diabetic patients at general hospitals. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression among patients with diabetes mellitus at Tirunesh-Beijing General Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 8 to April 8, 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 403 participants. Depression was assessed by using patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Oslo 3 social support scale was used to assess social support. The data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed by the statistical package for social science version 23 software. We computed bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions to assess factors associated with depression. Statistical significance was declared at P-value < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 403 study participants were interviewed with a response rate of 99%. The prevalence of depression among diabetic patients was 21.3%. In the final multivariate analysis, diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus, being physically disabled and having poor social support were independent predictors of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Type II diabetes mellitus, poor social support and physical disability were factors associated with depression. An early depression-focused regular screening for diabetic patient should be carried out by trained health professionals. Linkage with mental health service providers also needs to be considered. Clinicians needs to give emphasis to diabetic patients with physically disable and poor social support.

Factors Affecting Psychological Distress among People Living with HIV/AIDS at Selected Hospitals of North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The new advances for the treatment of HIV infection using Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) have dramatically improved disease prognosis. However, they are living longer with a chronic condition that increases the risk for psychiatric and psychosocial problems. Various studies have linked HIV/AIDS with a number of psychological problems, depression being the most common. Moreover, studies have found that chronically ill people are at increased risk of psychological problems. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the level of psychological distress and its associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in selected Hospitals of North Sowa Zone of Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2017. METHOD: Institution based cross-sectional study design with systematic random sampling method was used. Data was collected by structured interviewer-based Amharic version questionnaire. A total of 422 people living with HIV/AIDS were involved in the study from 1 to 30 May 2017. Data analysis was done with the help of a computer program (SPSS version 16.0). Binary logistic regression analysis was used for bivariate and multivariate analysis. The strength of the association was presented by odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. RESULT: The prevalence of psychological distress was 7.8% (95% CI: 5.25%, 10.39%). Being female (AOR = 3.02; 95% CI: 1.16, 7.82), illiterates (AOR = 3.91; 95% CI: 1.31, 6.45), participants who currently use alcohol (AOR = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.23, 5.88), respondents whose CD4 count is less than 500 cells/µl (AOR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.02, 5.11), and participants who are considered stigmatized (AOR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.11, 5.22) were positively associated with psychological distress. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of psychological distress was low as compared to other studies conducted in Ethiopia. This may affect the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Being female, illiteracy, alcohol use, and having lower CD4 count and perceived stigma increased the odds of psychological distress. Thus, concerned stakeholders should collaborate on the integration of HIV/AIDs treatment and mental health services.