Publication:

A cross-sectional study on depression among people living with HIV attending anti-retroviral therapy center in Jaya Arogya Group of Hospital, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh

Background India is committed to ‘ending the AIDS’ epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 in line with sustainable development goals (SDG). This ambitious target cannot be achieved without meeting the needs of people living with and affected by HIV and the determinants of health and vulnerability, being addressed. PLHIV often experience depression. Mental health concerns with depression, represent a major challenge for individuals managing HIV. Understanding the psychological landscape of those receiving specialized care is essential for improving overall health outcomes and survival rates.

Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional design conducted over a twelve-month period. The study focused on 380 HIV-positive participants within the 25 to 35 years of age. Assessments were performed using a structured questionnaire and the Hamilton depression rating scale to measure the presence and intensity of symptoms. Data were analyzed using SPSS v27, with p<0.05 considered significant.

Results The study found that 26.3% of the participants suffered from depression. Statistical analysis highlighted several factors associated with higher rates of mental distress. Individuals who were separated from their partners, those living alone without family support, and those identifying as transgender showed significantly higher levels of depression.

Conclusions Depression status was found to be statistically significantly associated with gender, marital status and type of family. The lack of family support drastically increased depression risk, individuals whose last counselling session was more than three months ago experienced significantly higher depression compared to those counselled recently.