The association between symptoms of mental disorders and health risk behaviours in Vietnamese HIV positive outpatients: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: A high prevalence of symptoms of mental disorders (SOMD) has been found among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). Additionally, SOMD may impact on the prevalence of high-risk health behaviours (HRB). This study investigates the relationship between SOMD and HRB in a large sample of Vietnamese HIV positive outpatients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 outpatients at two HIV/AIDS clinics in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, selected using a systematic sampling technique. Validated scales were used to measure SOMD, specifically symptoms of depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder (AUD), substance use disorder (SUD) and HIV associated dementia (HAD). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire assessing HRB during the preceding 12 months including unsafe sexual practices and illicit drug use. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between SOMD and HRB. Results: The majority of participants (63.5%) were male and the median age was 34.0 years. Unsafe sexual practices and illicit drug use were reported by 13.8 and 5.5% of participants. The prevalences of HAD, depression, AUD, anxiety and SUD symptoms were 39.8, 36.5, 13.3 10.5, 3.3% respectively. There was no association between SOMD and HRB either with or without adjusting for correlates of HRB, except between symptoms of SUD and illicit drug use. PLHIV who had symptoms of SUD were more likely to use illicit drugs (adjusted Odds Ratio 81.14, 95% CI 12.55-524.47). Conclusions: While the prevalence of SOMD among HIV positive outpatients was high, most SOMD were not associated with increased HRB. Only illicit drug use was predicted by symptoms of SUD. Screening PLHIV for symptoms of SUD may be useful for detecting people likely to be engaging in illicit drug use to reduce the risk of secondary disease transmission.

Prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among HIV-positive men who inject drugs in Vietnam

“…This estimate is consistent with previous reports on depression prevalence among people living with HIV of 40–42% worldwide [ 34 ]. Prior studies measuring prevalence in Vietnam found a range from 19% to 40% of people living with HIV reported current depressive symptoms [ 24 – 28 , 47 ]. The elevated prevalence of severe depressive symptoms in our study among HIV-positive PWID, compared to prior work that did not focus on PWID, supports our hypothesis that PWID are particularly vulnerable to depression.…”

“…Prior studies in more comparable settings in Indonesia and China focused on PWID not known to be HIV-positive [ 8 ] or enrolled participants who were engaged in HIV care and no longer active drug users [ 9 ]. To date, studies in Vietnam have assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms in HIV-positive populations, with estimates ranging from 19% to 40% [ 24 – 28 ]. However, none of these studies has focused on HIV-positive PWID, and the prevalence in this high risk group remains unknown.…”

The longitudinal association between depression, anxiety symptoms and HIV outcomes, and the modifying effect of alcohol dependence among ART clients with hazardous alcohol use in Vietnam

“…A study among 1016 PWH in Vietnam found that 30.1% of PWH had hazardous alcohol use [46]. Vietnamese PWH are also commonly affected by mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety [47,48]. Using data from a randomized controlled trial of two alcohol reduction interventions among PWH with hazardous alcohol use in Vietnam, we aim to [1] evaluate the longitudinal association between mental health symptoms (depression and anxiety symptoms) and two HIV outcomes (VS and complete ART adherence) among ART clients with hazardous alcohol use in Vietnam; and [2] determine whether alcohol dependence modifies the longitudinal association between depression, anxiety symptoms and HIV outcomes (conceptual model shown in Figure S1).…”

Prácticas de riesgo para transmisión de VIH en estudiantes de medicina de Latinoamérica y el Caribe, 2017

“…Las personas que viven con el virus del sida (PVVS) que son conscientes de su estado seropositivo pueden seguir participando en comportamientos de salud de alto riesgo (HRB, por sus siglas en inglés), las prácticas sexuales inseguras (PSU) y el uso de drogas intravenosas entre las PVVIH representan importantes fuentes de transmisión de enfermedades secundarias (12) .…”

“…En la actualidad se habla de una pandemia de VIH alrededor del mundo siendo uno de los principales medios de transmisión las prácticas sexuales inadecuadas, donde la población de riesgo en aumento son los menores de 25 años, que por lo general es la universitaria (11,12) .…”