Smoking, Depression, and Gender in Low-Income African Americans with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Individuals with HIV/AIDS have disproportionately high depression and smoking prevalence rates. Smokers with HIV/AIDS are more susceptible to opportunistic infections, smoking-related illnesses, and mortality. African Americans (AAs) comprise nearly half of newly diagnosed HIV+ cases. We examined the relationship among smoking, depression, and gender in un- or under-insured AA patients (N = 289) at an urban community HIV/AIDS clinic in the southeastern US. Approximately 33% met criteria for a depressive disorder and 37% endorsed current smoking status. Men were more likely than women to be current smokers and depressed participants were more likely to smoke than non-depressed participants. Women had significantly higher rates of depression compared to men. Both depression and male gender independently predicted current smoking status. Depression and smoking are likely to co-occur in HIV/AIDS patients; however, standard smoking cessation interventions often exclude smokers with comorbid psychiatric and/or medical illnesses. Interventions addressing these comorbidities are warranted.

Keywords:

• HIV/AIDS
• African American
• cigarette smoking
• depression
• gender

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to acknowledge the efforts of the patients, staff, and physicians of the Early Intervention Clinic in Baton Rouge, LA. We would also like to acknowledge the following clinicians who contributed to this project: Leah Adams, Mark Schexnaildre, Megan McVay, Alyse Barker, Mandi Musso, Daniel Proto, and Whitney Jenkins.