FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SELF-REPORTED DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN SASKATOON,SASKATCHEWAN
Date
2019-11-18
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
In the past years, the co-existence of depressive disorders/symptoms with HIV infection has been well documented in the literature. However, factors that are associated with increased depressive disorders/symptoms among individuals living with HIV remain largely understudied. Therefore, this study aims to examine sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical risk factors that are associated with self-reported depressive symptoms in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Saskatoon.
We used a cross sectional study of 351 PLWHA who were accessing care at the positive living program (PLP) unit of the Royal University Hospital (RUH) in Saskatoon from 2010 to 2015. Descriptive statistics were carried out to explore our data. Univariate analysis was performed using Pearson’s chi-square test and univariate/multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between self-reported depressive symptoms and the variables being investigated. All variables were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and the significant level was P < 0.05 throughout the analysis.
Our study examined the medical chart records of 351 patients. 113 patients (32.2%) self-reported depressive symptoms at baseline, 18 (5.1%) denied depressive symptoms and 219 (62.6%) were missing depression information. From the 113 (32.2%) patients who self-reported depressive symptoms, 81 (71.7%) were above the age of 35 years, 68 (60.2%) male, 49 (43.4%) were from indigenous ancestry and 40 (35.4%) reported injection drug use (IDU). Their clinical/laboratory test reports indicated that 24 (21.2%) patients had low CD4+ cell counts (< 200 cells/μl), 49 (43.4%) medium CD4+ cell counts (200 – 500 cells/μl), 27 (23.9%) high CD4+
cell counts (>500 cells/μl), and 10 (8.8%) had non-detectable viral load. Our analysis showed that people from indigenous ancestry, employed, formal support, men who have sex with men (MSM)/homosexual men and prior history of incarceration were independently associated with self-reported depressive symptoms. However, MSM (P <0.04) and employed PLWHA (P <0.02) were associated with self-reported baseline depressive symptoms at the level of the multivariate logistic model. Based on the study findings, future social programs should pay closer attention to MSM/homosexual men and employed PLWHA to manage early signs and symptoms of depression among these vulnerable populations in Saskatoon.
Description
Keywords
Depressive symptoms, HIV/AIDS, Men Sex Men, PLWHA
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Community Health and Epidemiology
Program
Community and Population Health Science