[434] PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV

[434] Prevalence of depression in people living with HIV/AIDS at Kalafong Hospital ARV Clinic B van Coppenhagen, HS Duvenage, Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria PJ Becker, Biostatistics Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria Introduction: Compared to the general population there is overwhelming evidence of an increased prevalence of depression in people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Studies have shown a prevalence of approximately 10% in general populations and a two-fold increase in PLWHA. The combination of these two common illnesses has profound consequences on PLWHA and on our healthcare system. Aim and Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of depression in patients with HIV and AIDS requiring antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. The study highlights the percentage of patients that have depressive symptomatology that are ARV naïve, compared to patients that are one year postinitiation of ARV therapy. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out at the Kalafong Hospital ARV Clinic on 622 adult patients aged 18 years or older, over an eight-month period between January 2012 and August 2012. A brief rating scale for depression, the Centre for Epidemiological Study Scale (CES-D) was administered to participants in the study. The CES-D is a 20-item self-rating scale that assesses current levels of depression as per DSM-IV criteria. Results: The prevalence of cases with depression was 53.8%. There was no statistical difference in the prevalence of cases of depression in the ARV naïve group as compared to the group of patients that were one year post-initiation of ARV therapy (P = 0.234). Conclusion: Depressive symptomatology was highly prevalent in the study patients. The findings reflect the importance of screening and management of depression in PLWHA.