Incidence and Correlates of Severe Depression and Stigmatization among HIVPositive Patients Seeking Care at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital

Abstract

Depressive disorders are notably more prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), occurring at rates three times higher than in the general population. In Uganda, the reported prevalence of depressive disorders among PLWHA ranges between 20% and 40%, with stigma affecting about 34% of this demographic. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify factors associated with major depression and stigma among HIV-positive patients attending the ART clinic at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital (SRRH). Conducted as a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study, the research utilized a simple random sampling technique to select 138 participants aged 18 years and older, already diagnosed with HIV and attending the SRRH ART clinic. Critically ill or admitted individuals were excluded from the study. The majority of respondents were female (60.9%), aged between 31 and 45 years (45.7%), and had attained primary school education (54%). The study found a 16.7% prevalence of current major depressive episodes among PLWHA, with 56.5% experiencing recurrent major depressive episodes. Regarding stigma, the prevalence of minimal, mild, and moderate stigma was 65.2%, 29%, and 5.8%, respectively. Factors such as male gender, being divorced or widowed, and being unemployed or engaged in peasant work were statistically associated with any form of major depressive episode. Additionally, recent initiation of ART was linked to stigma among this population. The findings underscored the frequent occurrence of major depression and stigma among PLWHA, which were influenced by factors such as changes in marital status, recent ART initiation, and limited employment opportunities. The study recommended institutionalized and personalized counseling, the formation of social or peer support groups, community education initiatives regarding major depression and stigma among PLWHA, and regular patient follow-ups to mitigate the incidence and prevalence of major depression and stigma in this vulnerable segment of the population. Keywords: prevalence, depression, stigma, HIV