Prevalence of Depression and Adherence to Treatment Among Youth Living With Hiv Attending Kenyatta National Hospital Comprehensive Care Clinic (Ccc)

Abstract

Background: In HIV/AIDS patients especially youth infected with the illness the most common and highly co-occurring frequent mental disorder is depression. Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and the social correlates of symptoms of depression among young people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus attending CCC at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study, 180 HIV-positive young people from CCC of Kenyatta National Hospital were recruited by random sampling technique. Data was collected using a researcher designed socio-demographic questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory-II was used to assess symptoms of depression and document the prevalence of depressive disorder. The eight item Morisky Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MMARS) questionnaire was used to estimate drug adherence. Results: Of the 180 participants 93(51.7%) were male, 42.2% were 17-20years old. The prevalence of depression was 34.4% and majority, 69.4% had mild-moderate depression.73 (40.6%) of the participants had inadequate adherence. There was a significant association between level of adherence and depression. Those with poor adherence had higher odds (OR 1.818) of developing depression than the ones with good adherence. Knowing one’s HIV status for less than a year, level of income that was high, and knowing Parents HIV status were all associated with depression. Conclusion: The study outcome helped in understanding depression associated factors in young people infected with HIV, at KNH CCC. .Routine screen for depression especially among those who have recently known their HIV status or are having issues with adherence is paramount to detect and manage depression at its early onset.