RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Co-morbid depression poses a challenge to the successful management of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). This study assessed the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among patients receiving treatment for TB in a tertiary health care facility in southwestern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among all the pulmonary TB patients presenting in the initiating or continuous phase of treatment and they were consecutively recruited between January and December, 2017. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) tool was used for the diagnosis of depression. The severity of depression was assessed using Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD). RESULTS: Of the 152 patients, 85 (55.9%) were males with a mean age of 41.7 ±15.5 years and 71 (46.7%) had depression of which 64(90.1%) had mild depression and 2 (2.8%) had severe depression. Among female 38(56.7%) were depressed compared to 33 (38.8%) male (p=0.028). Fifty-nine (55.1%) of those on continuous phase of treatment were depressed compared to 12 (27.3%) initiating treatment (p=0.002). In those with HIV co-morbidity 36 (66.7%) were depressed while 35 (35.7%) were depressed among those without HIV co-morbidity (p <0.001). Among those who had poor perception of treatment outcome, 7 (87.5%) were depressed compared to 64 (44.4%) with good perception, p=0.018. Overall, predictors of depression were having poor perception about outcome of treatment (AOR: 12.9; CI 95%: 1.4-118.4), having HIV co-morbidity (AOR: 2.9; CI 95%: 1.4-6.3) and being on continuous phase of TB treatment (AOR: 2.5; CI 95%: 1.1- 5.9). CONCLUSION: The care of patients with TB should be more comprehensive. Health care workers should actively seek for evidence of depression among patients diagnosed with Tuberculosis and appropriate help offered to them.