Elaine Marieb College of Nursing Faculty Publication Series

Publication Date

2014

Journal or Book Title

Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care

Abstract

Background: Depression is emerging as a highly prevalent psychiatric condition among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Perceived family support (PFS) buffers depression among chronic disease patients. However, a similar relationship among PLWHA is unexplored. Objective: To examine the relationship between PFS and depression among PLWHA in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, depression was measured by Beck Depression Inventory Ia. Perceived family support was measured by Nepali Family Support and Difficulties Scale. The status of depression was compared between 208 PLWHA and 208 HIV-negative participants. The relationship between PFS and depression was examined only among PLWHA. Results: Among each of the 208 participants, the number of depressed PLWHA (n ¼ 61,29.3%) was higher than that of HIV-negative participants (n ¼ 13,6.2%; P < .001). Perceived family support had a negative association with depression in PLWHA (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] ¼ 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] ¼ 0.08-0.53). Conclusion: In Nepal, PLWHA display a higher level of depression than HIV-negative people, and a lower level of PFS is associated with depression among PLWHA. Improved family support might be helpful in reducing depression among Nepalese PLWHA.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0090959

Volume

9

Issue

3

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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