The prevalence of suicidal ideation and its psychological determinants among people living with HIV and AIDS attending ART clinic at Adult Centre of Excellence University Teaching Hospital
Date
2017
Authors
Mwenya, Mpundu Monica
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Suicidal ideation has long been associated with HIV infected populations worldwide.
It has been found that HIV does not only attack the immune system of an individual
but also the nervous system leading to psychological dysfunction of an individual.
The objectives of the study were: to establish the occurrence of suicidal ideation
among people living with HIV and AIDS; and to identify the major determinants of
suicidal ideation among people living with HIV and AIDS. A cross sectional
quantitative design was adopted. Systematic random sampling method was used to
select the sample size. The total sample comprised of 280 participants. A social
demographic questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Suicidal Risk
Screening Scale (SRSS) were used to collect data. The study findings from the SRSS
test revealed that (n=193, 69%) of the participants had lower suicide risk while
(n=87, 31%) fell into the higher suicide risk category. One of the major determinants
revealed from the study was depression from the BDI instrument.
The findings from the BDI test showed that (n=25, 9%) of the participants were
normal (n=137, 49%) fell into the ups and down category which is considered
normal (n=48, 17%) fell into the mild mood disturbance, borderline clinical
depression (n=20, 7%), moderate depression (n=34, 12%), severe depression (n=14,
5%) and extreme depression (n=3, 1%). Cumulatively, the BDI scores of 17 and
above indicates that such participants may need clinical treatment and further
psychological management. The study also showed that participants that fell into
moderate, severe depression and extreme depression amounted to a total of (n=51,
18.2%). When the borderline category was included, the figure came to (n=71,
25.4%). The correlation coefficient between the BDI results and the SRSS results
were 0.714, indicating a strong positive relationship between the BDI results and the
SRSS results. The education level showed a very weak negative correlation between
SRSS at -0.196 and with BDI at -0.163. Gender showed a very weak positive
correlation with BDI at 0.213 all were significant at 0.01 confidence level. The rest
of the determinants such as age at -0.104, employment -0.106, marital status -0.106,
income -0.059, length of status -0.063 were not significant.
The study showed that psychological tests should be used routinely to screen for
depression and suicidal ideation when dealing with HIV positive patients by health
professionals at baseline level to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
Key words: suicidal ideation, depression and Human Immunodeficiency Virus and
psychological dysfunction.
Description
THESIS MSC
Keywords
HIV/AIDS--Pschology--Zambia , HIV/AIDS--Mental disorders--diagnosis--Zambia , HIV/AIDS--Suicidal ideation--Zambia