Prevalence and correlates of depression among caregivers of children living with HIV in Ghana: findings from the Sankofa pediatric disclosure study. Issue 3 (4th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ofori-Atta, Angela; Reynolds, Nancy R.; Antwi, Sampson; Renner, Lorna; Nichols, Justin S.; Lartey, Margaret; Amissah, Kofi; Tettey, Jonas Kusah; Alhassan, Amina; Ofori, Irene Pokuaa; Catlin, Ann C.; Gan, Geliang; Kyriakides, Tassos C.; Paintsil, Elijah
• Is Part Of: AIDS care. Volume 31:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 283
• Page End: 292
• Publication Date: 2019-03-04
• Subjects: Caregiver -- depression -- pediatric HIV -- disclosure; AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Care -- Periodicals; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; 362.1969792
• DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1537463
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-0121

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Prior studies show an association between caregiver depression and child health outcomes. There has been little examination of depression among caregivers of HIV-infected children in sub-Saharan countries where pediatric HIV is concentrated. Using baseline data collected in the pediatric HIV disclosure intervention trial, Sankofa, we examined the prevalence and factors associated with depression among caregivers ( N = 446) of children infected with HIV in Ghana. Data were analyzed with descriptive and regression analyses. The mean age of the caregivers was 42.2 ± 10.4 years. Eighty percent of the caregivers were female and 59% were HIV-infected. Twenty-eight percent ( n = 126) of the caregivers were found to have mild to severe depression. In the adjusted model, factors significantly associated with caregiver depression included: HIV-positive caregiver status ( P = 0.04), low income ( P = 0.02), lower social support, ( P = 0.01), lower HIV knowledge, ( P = 0.01), worse HIV illness perceptions ( P ≤0.001), and greater perceived HIV stigma ( P ≤0.001). Although we found a high prevalence of depression among our study participants, several of the risks factors identified are modifiable and amenable to interventions that are locally available and affordable. Trial registration: Uniform Trial Number identifier: NCT01701635.