Campos LN, Bonolo PF, Guimaraes MD; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WePeB5767.

Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Background: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression among HIV-infected patients initiating ARV treatment in two public health referral centers in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Methods: A total of 406 patients were enrolled in a concurrent cohort study for ARV adherence evaluation. Clinical, behavioral and demographic data were collected from interviews and medical charts. Anxiety and depression were assessed using stantard non-psyquiatric patient questionnaire completed before the first ARV prescription. Those found to score beyond 10 for each subscale were considered to have anxiety or depression. Risk factors were assessed by odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Multivariate analysis was carried out by logistic regression. Results: Most of the 386 respondents were male(57%), single(46%), had less than 8 years of education(52%) and had no health insurance(77%). Median age was 33 years. Prevalence of anxiety and depression were 36% and 22%, respectively. Female sex, low liter acy, to be single and to live alone, difficulty of access to health service, embarrassment during clinic visits, use of medication other than ARV and being on psychotherapy were associated with anxiety as determined by multivariate analysis. On the other hand, female sex, to have no health insurance, to be single and to live alone, to have at least one sexual partner and use of alcohol in the last month were associated with depression. Conclusions: 1. This study highlights the importance of detecting psychological distress by simple screening methods; 2. It is considerably high the prevalence of anxiety and depression among HIV positive individuals initiating ARV therapy; 3. Developing strategies and counselling may increase their likelihood of adherence to therapy and special attention should be given to those with low literacy, difficulty of access to health service, embarrassment during clinic visits, women living alone and those using other regular medication.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
• Anxiety
• Brazil
• Cohort Studies
• Depression
• Depressive Disorder
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Male
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• drug therapy
• therapy

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0039479

UI: 102283695

From Meeting Abstracts