Jornal de AIDS e Pesquisa Clínica

Common Mental Disorder among HIV Infected Individuals at Comprehensive HIV Care and Treatment Clinic of Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Ethiopia

Abstract

Selamawit Zewdu and Nurilign Abebe

Introduction: The presence of HIV/AIDS increases the risk of development of mental disorders and the presence mental illness affects disease progression. The resulting co morbidity complicates help -seeking, diagnosis, quality of care provided, treatment and its outcomes, and adherence. Despite the fact that developing countries carry huge burden of both HIV/AIDS and mental illness, no data about the co-occurrence/link and factors associated is available in local setting. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of common mental disorder and associated factors among PLHA at Comprehensive HIV Care and Treatment Clinic of Debre Markos referral Hospital in 2013/2014. An institution-based cross sectional study with the Amharic version of the SRQ was conducted. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional Review Board of Debre Markos University and Informed consent was obtained.

Result: Mean age was 37.9 years ± 10.05 years. Prevalence of CMD is found to be 24.3%. Significant associations were found between CMD and past psychiatric illness, ART regimen, marital status, HIV/AIDS disclosure and perceived stigma.

Conclusion and recommendation: There was a significant burden of mental illness among HIV-infected individuals in this setting. It is important to note that the link between HIV care and treatment services and psychiatric service should strengthen. Hospital administrators must give better attention to inpatient mental health service including substance abuse treatment. Clinicians also should always assess HIV-infected subjects for depression, anxiety and other common mental disorders to ensure early detection and treatment.