Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) among patients at the Mathari national teaching and referral hospital.

Abstract

Background Mental health still remains a major concern in relation to the management of HIV infection. Little effort has been employed in ensuring the proper management of serious mental illness and in the management of HIV among these patients. Objectives The objectives of the study was to determine the prevalence of HIV, to establish the factors that are associated with the infection of HIV and to assess the association between mental illness and HIV infection among patients in Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital. Methodology This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study and the study population was comprised of patients of Mathari hospital who have a mental illness. Probability stratified sampling was used in the selection of respondents and Fischer's formula was used in the calculation of the sample size of the respondents. A semi-structured questionnaire was used in the collection of information from the respondents. Descriptive analysis was conducted through the use mean, percentages and frequencies. The inferential analysis was conducted through the use of Pearson correlation and regression analysis to check for associations between the variables. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Data was then be presented by the use of frequency distribution tables, graphs and charts. Significance The study helps capture the prevalence of HIV among individuals with mental illness which will be instrumental in capturing the extent of the problem. This information will in turn help in the development of strategies to help in the management of HIV among individuals in this population. Findings A prevalence of 8.3% was captured from the study which captured a total of 385 respondents. Binary Logistic Regression revealed that occupation (OR= 3.30 CI=1.58- 6.89; P=0.001), gender (OR=5.06, CI=2.32-11.05; p<0.001), Knowledge of partners HIV status (OR=3.57, CI=1.47-8.63; p=0.005), Use condoms when having sex (OR=3.32, CI=1.54-7.19; p=0.002) and Social support (OR=5.78, CI=2.04-16.33; P= 0.001) were associated with HIV status. In multivariate analysis only gender (AOR= 3.50, CI=1.38-8.84, p=0.008) was significant. There was no association between HIV status and mental illness.