Family Support, Clinical Profiles, and Psychiatric Comorbidities among Adult Ambulatory HIV/AIDS Patients In A Tertiary are Centre: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: People living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), [PLWHA], experience more common psychiatric disorders (CPDs) than the general population, and family support has been reported to influence these disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between family support, respondents' clinical profiles, and CPDs among PLWHA attending highly active antiretroviral therapy clinics of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Ilorin, Kwara State.

Methods: This was a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study, utilizing semi-structured and structured questionnaires to collect data among 363 respondents between March and May 2019. Family support and CPDs were assessed using Perceived Social Support-Family and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview respectively. Anthropometric measurements and CD4 cell count test were also performed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Chi-square tests were used to compare associations between categorical variables; a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Family support was strong in 93.7% of respondents, and there were significant associations between family support and CPDs (depression and anxiety disorder {AD}) [p-values 0.001 and < 0.001]. AD was found to be significantly associated with CD4 counts and WHO HIV disease staging (p-values 0.008 and < 0.001), and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) had a significant association with WHO HIV disease staging (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Strong family support was associated with a lower prevalence of CPDs. Family members should be encouraged to offer appropriate and functional social support to PLWHA