Prevalence of depression and associated factors among adults on antiretroviral therapy in public hospitals of Kembata Tembaro Zone, South Ethiopia

Background Despite the commonness and its relationship with poor outcomes among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected adults, depression remains widely unrecognized, untreated, or undertreated in antiretroviral therapy clinic care. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression among adult people living with HIV attending antiretroviral therapy clinics in public hospitals at Kembata Tembaro Zone, South Ethiopia, 2020. Method Multi centric facility based cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 393 HIV-infected adults in public Hospitals of Kembata-Tembaro Zone from March-April 2020. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Quantitative data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with depression. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Among the study participants, 217(56.2%) were females, 230(59.6%) were married, 190(49.2%) were between the ages of 29-39 years, and 198(51.3%) attended primary education. The prevalence of depression was 44.3% (95%CI: 39.4%-49.2%). Being female (AOR=2.03,95%CI:1.21,3.40), living alone (AOR=3.09,95%CI:1.68,5.68), Having HIV related stigma (AOR=2.85, 95%CI: 1.73,4.71), poor social support (AOR=2.55, 95% CI:1.48,4.78), CD4 count less than 350 cell/ul (AOR=2.66, 95% CI:1.48,4.58) and Poor medication adherence (AOR=2.19,95% CI:1.32,3.65) were factors significantly associated with depression. Conclusion The prevalence of depression was high. Being female, living alone, having HIV-related stigma, Poor social support, CD4 count less than 350cell/ul, and poor medication adherence was associated with depression. Depression should be included as part of the routine consultation of HIV patients to warrant early detection and treatment.