Depression and social functioning among HIV-infected and uninfected persons in South Africa

Abstract

Depression and other health problems are common co-morbidities among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The aim of this study was to investigate depression, health status, and substance use in relation to HIV-infected and uninfected individuals in South Africa. Using a cross-sectional case-control design, we compared depression, physical health, mental health, problem alcohol use, and tobacco use in a sample of HIV-infected (N = 143) and HIV-uninfected (N = 199) respondents who had known their HIV status for two months. We found that depression was higher, and physical health and mental health were lower in HIV-positive than HIV-negative individuals. Poor physical health also moderated the effect of HIV infection on depression; HIV-positive individuals were significantly more depressed than HIV-negative controls, but only when general physical health was also poor. We did not find an association between alcohol or tobacco use and HIV status. These results suggest the importance of incorporating the management of psychological health in the treatment of HIV.

Keywords:

• co-morbidity
• depression
• physical health
• mental health
• HIV status
• South Africa

Acknowledgements

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funders. The authors thank the fieldwork coordinators Jesswill Magerman and Patricia Makuba, field supervisors Maria Vilakazi and Mantwa Mofokeng, and dedicated field-workers Bridget Chiloane, Sellinah Gume, Marcia Lingwathi, Deborah Magolo, Thandiwe Mthombothi, Cleopatra Ncongwane, Nontokozo Shabangu, and Nonhlahla Sibanyoni. The authors also thank the Mpumalanga Department of Health for providing logistical support and clinic space for field-worker training and study implementation.

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support for the study provided by the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging [grant number P30AG12836, B. J. Soldo, P.I.], the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, and the European Social Fund.

Additional information

Funding

Funding: The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support for the study provided by the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging [grant number P30AG12836, B. J. Soldo, P.I.], the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, and the European Social Fund.