HIV is major public problem in the world and in Sub-Saharan Region in particular. The literature
has shown that mental disorders and particularly depression are common among people living
with HIV/AIDS, but that little is known about the prevalence of depression and factors
associated with it, among people living with HIV/AIDS in Rwanda.
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was done to assess the prevalence of depression, the clinical
profile and the factors associated with depression among people living with HIV and attending a
primary health care centre in Kigali-Rwanda. This study was informed by the stress and
vulnerability framework. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and HIV
related medical information, while depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory
Scale, with a cut off of less than 10 for no depression and above 10 scoring positive for
depression. Respondents were randomly selected from the patient appointment list for patients
who were scheduled during the period of data collection and according to the sample selection
criteria. The sample consisted of 96 people living with HIV. Permission to conduct the study was
requested and obtained from the University of Kwazulu-Natal Ethics Committee, from the CNLS
Research and Ethics Committee in Rwanda and from the management of the health care centre to
consult patients' files.
Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS for window, 15).
Descriptive data was analyzed by means of frequencies, mean and standard deviation. Cross
tabulation using Pearson' chi-square test was performed to test the association between sociodemographic
factors and HIV related medical information and depression for categorical
variables, while t-test for independent simple test was performed for continuous variable. Multi
logistic regression analysis was performed to test further association between the above
mentioned factors with depression, while controlling for confounders. The results were presented
by means of tables, histograms and graphs.
The findings of the study revealed that depression is very high among HIV-infected patients
attending a primary health care centre in Kigali, with a prevalence of 41.7%. The most frequent
depressive symptoms presented were pessimism, fatigability, sad mood; lack of satisfaction,
somatic preoccupation, loss of libido, crying spells, work inhibition, irritability, social
v
withdrawal and loss of appetite. The majority of respondents scored mild to moderate
depression, whereas few had moderate to severe depression and only very few scored severe
depression. Having considered all other socio-demographic and HIV related medical factors that
were studied, being a female, having presented many HIV-related symptoms in the month prior
to data collection, and having less than 250 CD4 counts were statistically associated with
depression. On the other hand, having high social and family support was a protector factor to
depression.
Although the results of this study are not generalizable to the Rwandan population living with
HIV, they underscore the importance of integrating mental health in HIV/AIDS services for the
care of those who present mental problems related to HIV such as depression. / Thesis (MN)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/893 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Benoite, Umubyeyi. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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