Negative clinical and behavioural consequences of depression in HIV/AIDS as seen in Uganda

Question 1

what have western studies found?

Answer 1

Western studies have reported that depression in HIV/AIDS is associated with
a number of negative clinical and behavioural consequences

Question 2

What kind of characteristics hiv and depression studies had in common? 2009

Answer 2

Few
• Mostly small (sample size, n< 200)
• Used a disparity of assessment instruments (including screening
instruments whose cut off points had not been validated for use in
Africa)
• All cross sectional in nature (hence unable to inform direction of
causality and unable to unravel bidirectional causal relationships)
• Explored only a limited range of risk factors and consequences
• Used non mental health professionals to assess for mental disorders
using diagnostic tools

Question 3

What was the main difference between HIV epidemic in western countries and sub saharan africa?

Answer 3

HIV/AIDS epidemic in western countries was mostly among IV drug
users, homosexual males and minority groups –who already have high
base rates of mental disorders
• HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa was a generalised population
epidemic –HIV infected your next door neighbour or workmate with no
known risk behaviour