Psychological health among people living with HIV in Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Since human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV)-positive patients suffer from serious stigma and experience low quality of life in Iran, it seems that accompanying mental disorders are of high importance together with general mental disorders in the society. This study aimed to assess the psychological health of people living with HIV (PLWH) in Markazi Province in central Iran. Material and methods: Participants of this cross-sectional study were PLWH registered and cared for at the High-Risk Behavior Counseling Center of Arak University of Medical Sciences and Saveh University of Medical Sciences during 2020-2021. People living with HIV were selected by convenience sampling method. 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to collect mental health data by face-to-face interviews. GHQ-12 is a screening instrument for the identification of depression and general non-psychiatric disorders. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA software. Results: A total of 123 PLWH over the age of 18 were included in the study. The prevalence of mental disorders was 40.7% (95% CI: 0.32-0.50%). There were significant differences among groups with and without mental disorders between job, age, health insurance, alcohol consumption, hookah tobacco smoking, cigarette smoking, and history of imprisonment and tuberculosis prophylaxis, first CD4+ counts, and socio-economic status. Conclusions: This study concludes that the prevalence of mental disorders in PLWH was high in Markazi Province, Iran. It is recommended that health policymakers take necessary strategies for this group of patients, including the use of interventional methods based on cognitive behavior therapy principles to reduce HIV-related psychological health.