Background

Mental health problems accounted for 13% of the global burden of disease and are highly intertwined with infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS [1, 2]. Depression is mental health disorder which is characterized by depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, decreased energy, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite and poor concentration [3, 4]. Currently, an estimated 350 million peoples are affected by depression worldwide and predicted to be the second most important cause of the global disease burden by the year 2020 [3, 4]. However, in low- and middle-income countries treatment and support services for depression are often absent or underdeveloped. An estimated 76–85% of people suffering from mental disorders in these countries lack access to the treatment they need.

According to the global HIV/AIDS 2017 report, 36.7 million people were estimated to live with HIV/AIDS. About two-thirds of the HIV infected people in the world were located in sub-Saharan Africa and around 43% of new cases were in Eastern and Southern Africa including Ethiopia [5]. Ethiopia is one of the sub-Saharan countries highly affected by HIV, though the prevalence decreased from 1.5% in 2011 to 1.16% in 2017, it is still a great public health problem [6, 7]. Due stigmatizing nature of the disease depressive disorder was three times higher among HIV infected individuals, the lifetime prevalence of depression range from 22 to 45% [8, 9] compared to those HIV negative which is 3 to 17% [10]. Depression associated with different unfavorable health outcomes among HIVAIDS patients like, increased suicidal attempt, hopelessness, poor drug adherence, fast disease progression, drug resistance, treatment failure and decreased quality of life of patients. This may lead to hospitalization and the increasing cost of medical care.

Depression among HIV patients is related to a combination of clinical and socio-demographic factors. Some of clinical factors might be relatively unique to HIV patient, such as AIDS-related stigma [11], compromised immune status (low CD4 counts) and opportunistic infections [12]; on the other hand socio-demographic factors including gender, low educational level and unemployment have been associated with depression in both HIV negative and positive populations [13].

However, most health professionals fail to recognize depression and other mental problems among HIV/AIDS patients due to lack of regular screening and integrated services. There are limited studies that assessed the magnitude and predictors of depression among HIV patients. Moreover, the available didn’t address important clinical characteristics that might be associated with depression.

Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression among HIV/AIDS patients. Findings from this study could help clinicians for appropriate patient management. In addition, it could be also useful as entry point for the integration of mental health care services with antiretroviral treatment.

Methods

Study design, setting and period

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November to January, 2019, at Dessie referral hospital. The hospital is found in the Amhara region located 401 km far from Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. The hospital is serving more than five million people of the town and nearby districts. In addition to the general services, the hospital also provides antiretroviral therapy services for more than 6, 763 HIV/AIDS (6279 adults and 484 pediatric) patients since the service started.

Population and samples

Patients aged 18 years and above and took ART treatment for at least 6 months and attending ART clinic during the data collection period were the study population.

The sample size was determined by using single proportion formula with the assumptions of prevalence (P) of depression among HIVAIDS positive adults (38.94%) obtained from a study conducted in Debrebrhan [14] hospital, 95% confidence level, margin of error 5%, and 10% non-response rate and the final sample size became 403. Finally, the study participants selected by using systematic random sampling technique among ART clinic visitors.

Data collection procedure

Before initiation of the data collection process questionnaire was prepared in English by reviewing different literatures then translated to local language Amharic to keep its consistencies. The data collection tool has socio demographic, clinical, stigma, psychosocial and depression measurement questions. Depression was measured using the nine-item standardized Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depressive symptoms scale. It has a Likert scale with the following response options: 0 = not at all, 1 = several days, 2 = more than half the days, and 3 = nearly every day. It has 0–27 scoring as minimal (1–4), mild (5–9), moderate (10–14), moderately severe (15–19) and severe depressive symptoms (20–27). This is one of the most widely used scales and has been also used in Ethiopia, it is reliable, valid, sensitive and specific to measure depression [15].

Data were collected by interview administered questionnaire to recall for depressive symptoms within 2 weeks, other socio-demographic and clinical characteristics harvested through patient document review. To ensure the validity of the study pretest of the tool and 2 days training was given for two data collectors and one supervisor about the objective of the study and how to make and interview with HIV/AIDS patients.

Depression: Participants who were interviewed and scored five and above using patient health questioner 9 (PHQ-9) were considered as depressed [15].

Good adherence: If the average adherence level (95% or more adherence = missing ≤ 2 doses of 30 doses or ≤ 3 doses of 60 doses) and try to assess by asking the missed doses with in the past 3 days, within 1 week and within 1 month [16].

Fair adherence : (85–94% or 4–8 doses missed per month) [16].

Poor adherence: (less than 85% or ≥ 9 doses missed per month) [16].

Perceived stigma: Participants who scored above the median score ≥ 24 were perceived stigma and who scored below the median score (< 24) were not perceived stigma measured by using the HIV stigma scale [17].

Social support: The OSS-3 scores ranged from 3 to 14 with a score of 3–8 = poor support; 9–11 = moderate support; and 12–14 = strong support [18].

Body Mass Index: based on Nutritional assessment classification underweight < 18.5 kg/m2, Normal = 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, over weight ≥ 25 kg/m2 [19].

Data processing and analysis

The data was cleaned and entered into Epi info version 7 then exported to STATA Version 14 for data management and analysis. Descriptive statistics like percentage, median (IQR) were used to summarize socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and presented in the form of text, table and graphs. Binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with depression on HIV/AIDS patients. Crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI computed to see the presence and strength of association between independent variables and depression. Variables having a p-value of 0.05 and less in the multivariable logistic model considered as significantly associated with depression. Model fitness was checked by using Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of fit test.

Ethical consideration

Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Gondar College of medicine and health sciences ethical review committee before data collection process. An official permission letter was also written to Dessie referral hospital. Respondents were informed about the purpose of the study and verbal consent was obtained from each respondent. Moreover, all the study participants were informed that they have a full right to decline from the study and they were also assured for an attainment of confidentiality for the information obtained from them. Patients who had depression during data collection were linked to psychiatry clinic for further treatment and intervention.

Results

Socio demographic characteristics

In this study, a total of 395 HIV/AIDS patients were included with the response rate of 93.5%. The median age of the respondents was 38 [interquartile range (IQR): 10] years and about 46.9% aged between 35 and 44 years. Two hundred forty-two (61.3%) of participants were females, 43.3% were married and about 52.9% had no formal education. Most of the respondents 357 (90.4%) were urban dwellers and similarly 80.3% were living with their families (Table 1).

Table 1 Socio demographic characteristics of HIV positive patients in Dessie referral hospital, South Wollo, Ethiopia (n = 395)
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Clinical characteristics of the respondents

The majority (88.4%) of the respondents were on first line ART regimen, of which TDF-3TC-EFV (34.7%) and AZT-3TC-NVP (22%) regimens were commonly used combinations. The majority (83.5%) of the respondents were at recent WHO clinical stage I, of whom most (81.3%) of them had CD4 count of > 200 cells/mm3 and about (92.2%) patients had been on ART for more than 12 months. Regarding to ART adherence, the majority (92.4%) of the participants had a good drug adherence, 91.9% had disclosed their HIV status and 45.3% have faced stigma (Table 2).

Table 2 Clinical and behavioral characteristics of study participants at Dessie referral hospital, South Wollo, Ethiopia, 2019 (n = 395)
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Prevalence of depression

The prevalence of depression was found to be 20% with (95% CI 16.2, 23.8). Regarding to the severity of depression, 51.9%, 39.2%, 7.6% and 1.3% had mild, moderate, moderately sever and severe depression, respectively. The prevalence of depression among male and female patients was found to be 18.3% and 21.07%, respectively.

Factors associated with depression

In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age group of 25–34 year, widowed marital status, perceived stigma, CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/mm3, symptomatic patients (WHO stage II and above), non-disclosed HIV status, recent opportunistic infections and fair and poor drug adherence were significantly associated with depression.

As a result, those participants who were widowed and age group of 25–34 year, the odds of depression was 7.05 (AOR = 7.05, 95% CI 2.32, 21.38) and 6.58 (AOR = 6.58, 95% CI 1.11, 38.95) times higher compared single ones and those of older than 55 year, respectively. Similarly, symptomatic patients and those with CD4 count ≤ 200, the odds of depression was 2.51 [AOR = 2.51, 95% CI (1.38, 4.56)] and 5.94 [AOR = 5.94, 95% CI (2.68, 13.62)] times higher compared to those who were clinically stable and had higher CD4 count, respectively. Likewise, patients who experienced stigma and didn’t disclosed their HIV status, the odds of depression was 2.28 [AOR = 2.28, 95% CI (1.12, 4.94)] and 5.38 [AOR = 5.38, 95% CI (1.083, 26.73)] times higher compared to their counter parts. Recent opportunistic infections also associated with 5.18 times higher odds of depression compared to those who had no such history [AOR = 5.18, 95% CI (1.12, 24.55)]. Furthermore, those who had fair and poor drug adherence, the odds of depression was six times higher compared to those good adherence [AOR = 5.96, 95% CI (1.74, 20.52)] (Table 3).

Table 3 Factors associated with depression among HIV/AIDS patients on ART at Dessie referral hospital, South Wollo, Ethiopia, 2019 (n = 395)
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Discussion

This study showed that the prevalence of depression was 20% with 95% CI (16.2, 23.8). This finding is higher than studies done in Ethiopia in different places Debremarkos (11.7%) [11] and Axum (14.6%) [20]. On the other hand this finding is lower than studies done in other parts of Ethiopia, which ranged from 38.4% to 76.7% [14, 21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29]. The prevalence of depression in this study is similarly lower when compared to a systematic review and meta-analysis of east Africa studies (38%) [30], and another pooled estimates in Ethiopia (36.65%) [31] and a systemic review in China 60% [32]. This discrepancy might be due to the variation in sample size, the population being studied, the study period, inclusion criteria and measurement tools used to assess depression. For instance in the study done in Bahirdar depression was measured using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), whereas a study conducted in Tigray depression was measured by using the 21 items Hamilton’s depression scale Questionnaire. In addition, most of our study participants were clinically stable and most took ART for at least 6 months where immunological recovery achieved.

This study showed that the odds of depression was higher among younger age group patients compared to elders. This could be due to the fact that HIV/AIDS is stigmatizing disease that affects psychosocial well-being of patients. Similarly, this study also revealed that widowed marital status was associated with increased occurrence of depression compared to those married. This finding was supported by previous studies in Ethiopia (16). Death of marital partner and loved one associated with pathological grief and bereavement leads to sadness and loneliness that could increase depression [33].

Perceived stigma associated with increased occurrence of depression compared to those who didn’t experience stigma. This result is consistent with those of previous studies done in Ethiopia [22, 24,25,26, 29] and Uganda [13]. Perceived stigma go along with low self-image, social isolation and ultimately steered to develop psychological distress and depression [34].

Immunocompromised condition reflected by low CD4 count and those who are symptomatic were associated depression occurrence compared to those clinically stable and had high CD4 count. This result is consistent with studies done in Hawassa, Ethiopia [26] and Malawi [35]. Similarly, a study conducted in Uganda showed that CD4 count > 200 was associated with lower occurrence of depression (protective) [13]. Similarly a study conducted in Ethiopia Yekatit 12 hospital [28] showed that CD4 count < 250 was associated with depression and similar finding in Cameron showed that CD4 count < 100 was associated with high depression [6]. Besides systematic review done in Greece showed that symptomatic patients were more depressed than non-symptomatic patients [36].

In addition, this study also showed that recent opportunistic infections were associated with increased occurrence of depression. Opportunistic infections often associated with hospitalization and diminished functional status which could affect patient’s psychosocial and economic conditions. This result is in agreement with a study done in Alert hospital, Ethiopia [25].

Moreover, patient who were not strictly adherent to their antiretroviral medication were more depressed than those in good adherence. Poor adherence may cause instable clinical condition and loosen patient-physician relationship, ultimately leads to diminished concentration, and feelings of worthlessness and disrupt self-management activities. However, due the cross-sectional nature of the study poor adherence might be the result of depression which is the limitation of the study and difficult to establish cause-effect relationship. This finding is in agreement with a study done in Ethiopia [25, 12, 20, 28, 29] and Korea [37].

Furthermore, non-disclosed HIV status was associated with increased depression occurrence compared to those who disclosed their HIV status. This result is consistent with a study done in Dilla, Ethiopia [38].

This study had strengths of assessing the burden of mental health problems among HIV/AIDS which could be helpful for program consideration and service integration. However, institutional and cross-sectional nature of the study may limit the cause and effect and affect representativeness of the findings. In addition, there may be recall bias from respondents.

Conclusion

The magnitude of depression was relatively lower than pooled estimates of Ethiopia. Perceived stigma, widowed marital status, being symptomatic, fair and poor adherence, recent opportunistic infection, low CD4 count and non-disclosed HIV status were associated with depression. This finding suggests that depression is a huge problem on HIV patients. Thus integrating mental health care with antiretroviral therapy might be helpful. Special emphasis ought to be given for those at higher risk of depression.