Chinyere M. Aguocha^1,, Richard U. Uwakwe², Chukwuma B. Duru³, Kelvin C. Diwe³, Justine K. Aguocha⁴, Okezie O. Enwere¹, Emmanuel O. Olose⁵

Background: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric complications associated with HIV disease. In Nigeria depression has been found to be five times more common among People Living with HIV AIDS (PLWHA) than in apparently healthy populations. Aim: To assess the prevalence, socio-demographic determinants and phenomenology of depressive disorder among HIV patients attending HIV clinic in Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria. Methodology: This we did through a cross-sectional descriptive survey, carried out on 271 patients aged 18years and above receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART). We used Patient Health Questionnaire 9 to assess depressive disorder. The associations between depressive disorder and socio-demographic profiles among the genders were explored. Results: About 39.1% of the participants were found to be depressed, out of which 24.5% were mildly depressed, 50% moderately depressed and 24.5% severely depressed. More female participants, (28.0%) were found to be depressed than their male counterparts, (11.1%) although this difference was not statistically significant, (χ²=0.21, p=0.65). The rate (χ²=4.14, p=0.04) and severity (χ²=8.64, p=0.04) of concentration impairment was significantly higher in females compared to males. Conclusion: We concluded that the relatively high prevalence of depressive disorder among attendees at the HIV/AIDS clinic underscores the need for routine depression screening in these patients.

prevalence, socio-demographic, determinants, depressive disorder, HIV/AIDS clinic, Nigeria