The prevalence of depressive symptoms among sensory and physically challenged persons living with HIV/AIDS attending clinics in Nyanza Province, Kenya
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Date
2011Author
Aboge, Florence A
Type
ThesisLanguage
en_USMetadata
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Introduction; An estimated 10 % of the world's population has a disability. Despite this, the relationship between mv and disability has not received due attention worldwide whereas persons with disabilities are found among all key populations and are at a higher risk of exposure to my. In Kenya, 3.5% of the population experience some form of disability and that more disabled persons reside in rural than in urban areas. The prevalence is highest in Nyanza (5.6%).
Although depression has been shown to be associated with people with disability living with AIDS in many parts ofthe world, in Africa, Kenya in particular, there has been minimal research conducted on depression among people living with HIV/AIDs. There is little or no information available on the incidences of depression among people with disability living with HIV/AIDS. Objective: To establish the prevalence of depressive symptoms among people with disability living with HIV/AIDS attending clinics in Nyanza Province.
Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Nyanza Province at CCC, health facilities; and vcr centers among people with disability living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The participants were selected using purposive sampling method and data collected using socio-demographic questionnaire and Beck's Depression-Inventory (BDI) . Data was entered and analyzed using the Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17.
The results were then presented in the form of tables, charts, and descriptions. Results: Out of the 236 participants, 62.7% were females and the overall mean age was 42.6 (±11.6) years. Most of the participants were married (45.3%), had primary level of education (58.9%), lived in rural setting (66.9%) and were unemployed (58.5%). More than a half of the participants (51.7%) had clinical depression. Educational level of the participants was associated with depression.
Participants with lower education had a significantly higher likelihood of having clinical depression than those with higher level of education (P=O.OlO). In addition, total auditory disability increased the chances of having .clinical depression compared to those with partial auditory disability (p=O.025). Other socio-demographic, economic factors, mv factors and disability interventions were not associated with depression.
Conclusions: A half or more of the people with disability living with mv suffer clinical depression. Education influences the level of depression among the people with disability living with HIV. Recommendations: There is need to focus on psychiatric attention on sensory and physically challenged persons living with mv / AIDS.
Publisher
University of Nairobi, Kenya