Page 177 - HIVMED_v21_i1.indb

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine
ISSN: (Online) 2078-6751, (Print) 1608-9693
Page 1 of 5 Original Research

Depression, sleep quality and condom use

amongst Iranian people living with human

immunodeficiency virus

Authors: Background: Depression is a common mood disorder in people living with human
Marzieh Mahboobi 1 immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) and is associated with risk-taking sexual behaviour.
Arezu Najafi 2
Amin Nakhostin-Ansari 3 Objectives: This study examines depression, sleep quality and condom usage amongst PLWH
4
Parvin Afsar Kazerooni
Matin Bazargani 5 in Tehran, Iran.
Fatemeh Navaiian 6 Method: This cross-sectional study was undertaken between October and November 2019 on
Samaneh Akbarpour 2
298 PLWH referred to voluntary counselling and testing centres (VCTs) in Tehran. Participants
Affiliations: provided information as per the following questionnaires: the Depression, Anxiety, Stress
1 Department of Epidemiology
and Biostatistics, School of Scale (DASS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire and a demographic
Public Health, Isfahan questionnaire that evaluated condom use.
University of Medical
Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Results: A total of 298 PLWH, of whom 202 (67.8%) were men with a mean age of 39.81 years,
were enrolled in the study. The DASS classified 57% with depression. Fewer than 20% of these
2 Occupational Sleep Research used condoms regularly. The majority of depressed patients were men (68.6%) and 31.4% were
Center, Baharloo Hospital, women. The depressed patients were more likely not to use condoms than those who were not
Tehran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran depressed (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 6.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.70–11.42). The
adjusted OR for not using a condom amongst the depressed was 7.12 times greater (95% CI,
3 Sports Medicine Research 5.85–10.11) than in those without depression.
Center, Neuroscience
Institute, Tehran University Conclusion: Our findings suggest that depression is common amongst PLWH in Tehran and
of Medical Sciences, is associated with risk-taking sexual behaviour. Appropriate interventions are needed to
Tehran, Iran
address mental disorders in PLWH. It is recommended that patients be screened regularly for
4 Center for Communicable symptoms of depression and, where indicated, counselled and managed.
Disease Control, Ministry
of Health and Medical Keywords: Depression; condom use; HIV; Iran; sleep.
Education, Tehran, Iran

5 HIV Expert of Deputy of Introduction
Health, Tehran University
of Medical Sciences, The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that at the end of 2018, approximately 38 million
Tehran, Iran people were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) globally. The general health of
1
these patients has improved, and life expectancy and survival have increased. Nonetheless,
2
6 HIV Expert of Deputy of
Health, Shahid Beheshti social problems, negative attitudes and stigma remain and affect the mental health of people
University of Medical living with HIV (PLWH). Mental disorders are common in this group and include depression,
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
mania, psychosis, anxiety, substance abuse and the risk of suicide. 3
Multiple sexual partners and drug and alcohol abuse are more likely amongst depressed than
non-depressed people. 4,5,6 These behaviours are also associated with the acquisition of HIV.
7
Depression has been linked to unreliable adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and treatment
failure. Indeed, risk-taking sexual behaviour, poor adherence to treatment and ART failure
require the exclusion of depression as a cause. The correct and consistent use of condoms
8,9
reduces HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 10,11,12 Condom use is
influenced by depression. In a study of 278 Chinese women at high risk of HIV infection, 62% had
high levels of depression. Those with more severe depression were more likely not to use a
condom or to misuse it. 13
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Scan this QR Corresponding author: Samaneh Akbarpour, [email protected]
code with your Dates: Received: 11 Aug. 2020 | Accepted: 26 Sept. 2020| Published: 15 Dec. 2020
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smart phone or
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mobile device How to cite this article: Mahboobi M, Najafi A, Nakhostin-Ansari A, et al. Depression, sleep quality and condom use amongst Iranian
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people living with human immunodeficiency virus. S Afr J HIV Med. 2020;21(1), a1150. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v21i1.1150
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Copyright: © 2020. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
http://www.sajhivmed.org.za 169 Open Access