Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Background People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) are more prone to generalized anxiety disorder. There is a limited understanding of the prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and its associated risk factors among adult PWH in the Tanzanian context. This study aims to determine the prev...

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Main Authors: Frank Kiwango, Eric Mboya, Florian Emanuel Ghaimo, Neema Ng’unda, Carl Mhina, Editruda Gamassa, Kim Madundo, Ester Steven Mzilangwe, Lyidia Vedasto Masika, Iddi Haruna, Saidi Bakari Kuganda, Blandina Mmbaga, Sylvia Kaaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06769-5
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author Frank Kiwango
Eric Mboya
Florian Emanuel Ghaimo
Neema Ng’unda
Carl Mhina
Editruda Gamassa
Kim Madundo
Ester Steven Mzilangwe
Lyidia Vedasto Masika
Iddi Haruna
Saidi Bakari Kuganda
Blandina Mmbaga
Sylvia Kaaya
author_facet Frank Kiwango
Eric Mboya
Florian Emanuel Ghaimo
Neema Ng’unda
Carl Mhina
Editruda Gamassa
Kim Madundo
Ester Steven Mzilangwe
Lyidia Vedasto Masika
Iddi Haruna
Saidi Bakari Kuganda
Blandina Mmbaga
Sylvia Kaaya
author_sort Frank Kiwango
collection DOAJ
description Background People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) are more prone to generalized anxiety disorder. There is a limited understanding of the prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and its associated risk factors among adult PWH in the Tanzanian context. This study aims to determine the prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and related risk factors among adult PWH attending care and treatment clinics in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro Region. Methods We used a multistage random cluster sampling approach to select participants at four Care and treatment centers (CTCs) of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital, Majengo, and Pasua Health Centre, by location at tertiary, secondary, and primary health care levels. The seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening tool assessed levels of generalized anxiety symptoms with significance set at scores ≥ 10. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Bivariate analyses determined factors associated with significant anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 ≥ 10) at p-values $$\:\le\:$$ 0.20 for inclusion in the multivariate model. Adjusted prevalence ratios with confidence intervals are reported with significance set at a p-value of < 0.05. Results Out of 593 PWH participants, 12.48% screened positive for significant anxiety symptoms. Participants treated at the tertiary health facility level (aPR = 2.91, 95% CI: 2.48–3.41, P-value = 0.001), early adulthood 25–44 years (aPR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.27–2.42, P-value = 0.001), with higher anxiety sensitivity (aPR = 3.28, 95% CI: 2.08–5.19, P-value = 0.001), and higher levels of perceived social support (aPR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.34–3.27, P-value = 0.001) showed a higher likelihood of significant generalized anxiety symptoms. Conclusions Significant anxiety symptoms were common among adult PWH. Integrating routine generalized anxiety screening and raising PWH’s and primary caregivers’ awareness of GAD is recommended. Trial registration Clinical trial number not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-e78f8ed907014f6eb60de889a4d96e682025-08-20T03:07:44ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-04-0125111010.1186/s12888-025-06769-5Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional studyFrank Kiwango0Eric Mboya1Florian Emanuel Ghaimo2Neema Ng’unda3Carl Mhina4Editruda Gamassa5Kim Madundo6Ester Steven Mzilangwe7Lyidia Vedasto Masika8Iddi Haruna9Saidi Bakari Kuganda10Blandina Mmbaga11Sylvia Kaaya12Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical CentreEpidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesSchool of Medicine, KCMC UniversitySchool of Medicine, KCMC UniversitySchool of Medicine, KCMC UniversityDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical CentreDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical CentreDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesSchool of Medicine, KCMC UniversityDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Muhimbili National HospitalDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Muhimbili National HospitalSchool of Medicine, KCMC UniversityDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesBackground People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) are more prone to generalized anxiety disorder. There is a limited understanding of the prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and its associated risk factors among adult PWH in the Tanzanian context. This study aims to determine the prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and related risk factors among adult PWH attending care and treatment clinics in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro Region. Methods We used a multistage random cluster sampling approach to select participants at four Care and treatment centers (CTCs) of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital, Majengo, and Pasua Health Centre, by location at tertiary, secondary, and primary health care levels. The seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening tool assessed levels of generalized anxiety symptoms with significance set at scores ≥ 10. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Bivariate analyses determined factors associated with significant anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 ≥ 10) at p-values $$\:\le\:$$ 0.20 for inclusion in the multivariate model. Adjusted prevalence ratios with confidence intervals are reported with significance set at a p-value of < 0.05. Results Out of 593 PWH participants, 12.48% screened positive for significant anxiety symptoms. Participants treated at the tertiary health facility level (aPR = 2.91, 95% CI: 2.48–3.41, P-value = 0.001), early adulthood 25–44 years (aPR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.27–2.42, P-value = 0.001), with higher anxiety sensitivity (aPR = 3.28, 95% CI: 2.08–5.19, P-value = 0.001), and higher levels of perceived social support (aPR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.34–3.27, P-value = 0.001) showed a higher likelihood of significant generalized anxiety symptoms. Conclusions Significant anxiety symptoms were common among adult PWH. Integrating routine generalized anxiety screening and raising PWH’s and primary caregivers’ awareness of GAD is recommended. Trial registration Clinical trial number not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06769-5Anxiety prevalencePWHHIVTanzaniaAnd GAD
spellingShingle Frank Kiwango
Eric Mboya
Florian Emanuel Ghaimo
Neema Ng’unda
Carl Mhina
Editruda Gamassa
Kim Madundo
Ester Steven Mzilangwe
Lyidia Vedasto Masika
Iddi Haruna
Saidi Bakari Kuganda
Blandina Mmbaga
Sylvia Kaaya
Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study
BMC Psychiatry
Anxiety prevalence
PWH
HIV
Tanzania
And GAD
title Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study
title_full Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study
title_short Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study
title_sort prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with hiv aids in care and treatment clinic centers in kilimanjaro region tanzania a cross sectional study
topic Anxiety prevalence
PWH
HIV
Tanzania
And GAD
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06769-5
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