Psychological Distress in a Population of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: Association with Socio-demographics and Perceived Social Support

Background: Recent improvement in the care of People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) continues to change the face of HIV infection from a deadly disease to a chronic illness with attendance psychological sequelae. The objective of this present study was to examine the rate of psychological distress (PD), and its association with socio-demographics and perceived social support among PLHA. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among a population of PLHA in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the 10-item Kessler Psychological distress scale. Relationship between sociodemographic variables, social support and PD were examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Of 324 participants, 26.5% were experiencing PD. Being a female, unemployed, having no spouse, no post-test counseling or non-disclosure of status increases the odds of developing PD while the absence of complications significantly reduces the risk of developing psychological distress [OR=0.31 (95% CI: 0.17-0.56), AOR=0.20 (95% CI: 0.09-0.45)]. There was a significant negative correlation between PD and MSPSS (r= -0.116, p=0.037) and its Significant others subscale (r= -0.276, p=0.001). Conclusions: The study findings emphasize the importance of enhancing social support systems for people living with HIV/AIDS in a bid to reduce psychological distress. Similarly, disclosure of illness and ensuring post-test counseling are essential in preparing PLHA to cope effectively after testing. Incorporating psychological assessment as well as care for PLHA will go a long way in improving treatment outcomes.