Prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART in Okugu Refugee Camp, Gambella, Ethiopia

BackgroundDepression and HIV/AIDS are common mental health problems in people living in refugee camps under stressful conditions. When both conditions occur together in an already vulnerable population living in a deprived situation, they lead to severe health outcomes and complicate patient care. H...

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Main Authors: Adane Asefa, Belay Hirpesa, Zufan Asaye, Nigusie Shifera, Wegayehu Enbeyle Sheferaw, Gebremeskel Mesafint
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1550488/full
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author Adane Asefa
Belay Hirpesa
Zufan Asaye
Nigusie Shifera
Wegayehu Enbeyle Sheferaw
Wegayehu Enbeyle Sheferaw
Gebremeskel Mesafint
author_facet Adane Asefa
Belay Hirpesa
Zufan Asaye
Nigusie Shifera
Wegayehu Enbeyle Sheferaw
Wegayehu Enbeyle Sheferaw
Gebremeskel Mesafint
author_sort Adane Asefa
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundDepression and HIV/AIDS are common mental health problems in people living in refugee camps under stressful conditions. When both conditions occur together in an already vulnerable population living in a deprived situation, they lead to severe health outcomes and complicate patient care. However, there is a shortage of data on the magnitude of depression and related factors among displaced populations living with HIV/AIDS in refugee camps. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with depression among HIV/AIDS patients living in the Okugu Refugee Camp, Ethiopia.MethodsA health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 382 adults living with HIV/AIDS who were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at the Okugu Refugee Camp. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and medical chart review based on a standard checklist. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression. Data were coded and entered into EpiData version 4.6.0.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis were performed. Variables with a p-value less than 0.05 in the final model were considered statistically significantly associated with depression.ResultsA total of 380 study participants took part in the study, with a response rate of 99.4%. More than half of the study participants (58.2%) were female, and the mean age of respondents was 32.71 (SD=7.42). The prevalence of depression among the displaced South Sudanese population living with HIV/AIDS in the Ethiopia Okugu Refugee Camp was 56.8% (95% CI: 51.8%–61.9%). Female sex (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.24, 6.28), opportunistic infections (AOR = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.75, 7.06), a CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3 (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.78, 8.23), and poor social support (AOR = 4.70; 95% CI: 1.98, 9.79) were significantly associated with depression among the refugees.ConclusionsThe magnitude of depression among refugees living with HIV/AIDS was significantly high. Therefore, regular screening of people living with HIV for depression through integration of mental health services with routine ART services and equipping healthcare providers with essential supplies to deal with the problems of refugees are crucial.
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spelling doaj-art-308f36778ec746d6a9fe8d4bdbb301762025-08-20T03:53:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-05-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15504881550488Prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART in Okugu Refugee Camp, Gambella, EthiopiaAdane Asefa0Belay Hirpesa1Zufan Asaye2Nigusie Shifera3Wegayehu Enbeyle Sheferaw4Wegayehu Enbeyle Sheferaw5Gebremeskel Mesafint6Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, EthiopiaDepartment of Statistics, College of Natural and Computational Science, Mizan-Tepi University, Tepi, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, EthiopiaDepartment of Statistics, College of Natural and Computational Science, Mizan-Tepi University, Tepi, EthiopiaFaculty of Health Science, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, AustraliaDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Science, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, EthiopiaBackgroundDepression and HIV/AIDS are common mental health problems in people living in refugee camps under stressful conditions. When both conditions occur together in an already vulnerable population living in a deprived situation, they lead to severe health outcomes and complicate patient care. However, there is a shortage of data on the magnitude of depression and related factors among displaced populations living with HIV/AIDS in refugee camps. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with depression among HIV/AIDS patients living in the Okugu Refugee Camp, Ethiopia.MethodsA health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 382 adults living with HIV/AIDS who were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at the Okugu Refugee Camp. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and medical chart review based on a standard checklist. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression. Data were coded and entered into EpiData version 4.6.0.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis were performed. Variables with a p-value less than 0.05 in the final model were considered statistically significantly associated with depression.ResultsA total of 380 study participants took part in the study, with a response rate of 99.4%. More than half of the study participants (58.2%) were female, and the mean age of respondents was 32.71 (SD=7.42). The prevalence of depression among the displaced South Sudanese population living with HIV/AIDS in the Ethiopia Okugu Refugee Camp was 56.8% (95% CI: 51.8%–61.9%). Female sex (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.24, 6.28), opportunistic infections (AOR = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.75, 7.06), a CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3 (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.78, 8.23), and poor social support (AOR = 4.70; 95% CI: 1.98, 9.79) were significantly associated with depression among the refugees.ConclusionsThe magnitude of depression among refugees living with HIV/AIDS was significantly high. Therefore, regular screening of people living with HIV for depression through integration of mental health services with routine ART services and equipping healthcare providers with essential supplies to deal with the problems of refugees are crucial.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1550488/fulldepressionmental healthrefugeesrefugee campHIV-AIDSHAART
spellingShingle Adane Asefa
Belay Hirpesa
Zufan Asaye
Nigusie Shifera
Wegayehu Enbeyle Sheferaw
Wegayehu Enbeyle Sheferaw
Gebremeskel Mesafint
Prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART in Okugu Refugee Camp, Gambella, Ethiopia
Frontiers in Psychiatry
depression
mental health
refugees
refugee camp
HIV-AIDS
HAART
title Prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART in Okugu Refugee Camp, Gambella, Ethiopia
title_full Prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART in Okugu Refugee Camp, Gambella, Ethiopia
title_fullStr Prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART in Okugu Refugee Camp, Gambella, Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART in Okugu Refugee Camp, Gambella, Ethiopia
title_short Prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART in Okugu Refugee Camp, Gambella, Ethiopia
title_sort prevalence of depression and associated factors among hiv aids patients on haart in okugu refugee camp gambella ethiopia
topic depression
mental health
refugees
refugee camp
HIV-AIDS
HAART
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1550488/full
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