Depression and associated factors among HIV-positive smokers receiving care at HIV outpatient clinics in Vietnam: a cross-sectional analysis

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 14; no. 2; p. e077015
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Nam Truong, Nguyen, Trang, Vu, Giap Van, Truong, Nga, Pham, Yen, Guevara Alvarez, Gloria, Armstrong-Hough, Mari, Shelley, Donna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 13-02-2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Original research
• Subjects: Alcohol use; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Chronic illnesses; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression & mood disorders; Depression - epidemiology; Disease; Divorce; Drug use; Ecstasy; Education; Epidemiology; Family income; Female; Females; HIV; HIV & AIDS; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Living arrangements; Male; Marital status; Mental depression; Mental Health; Outpatient care facilities; Polls & surveys; Prevalence; PUBLIC HEALTH; Regression analysis; Secondary schools; Smokers; Smoking cessation; Social support; Sociodemographics; Tobacco; Tobacco Use Disorder - complications; Tobacco Use Disorder - epidemiology; Vietnam - epidemiology; Vietnam; PUBLIC HEALTH; MENTAL HEALTH; HIV & AIDS; Depression & mood disorders
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077015

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors among people living with HIV (PLWH) who were current cigarette smokers and receiving treatment at HIV outpatient clinics (OPCs) in Vietnam.DesignA cross-sectional survey of smokers living with HIV.SettingThe study was carried out in 13 HIV OPCs located in Ha Noi, Vietnam.ParticipantsThe study included 527 PLWH aged 18 and above who were smokers and were receiving treatment at HIV OPCs.Outcome measuresThe study used the Centre for Epidemiology Scale for Depression to assess depressive symptoms. The associations between depressive symptoms, tobacco dependence and other characteristics were explored using bivariate and Poisson regression analyses.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms among smokers living with HIV was 38.3%. HIV-positive smokers who were female (prevalence ratio, PR 1.51, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.22), unmarried (PR 2.06, 95% CI 1.54 to 2.76), had a higher level of tobacco dependence (PR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.11) and reported their health as fair or poor (PR 1.66, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.26) were more likely to have depression symptoms compared with HIV-positive smokers who were male, married, had a lower level of tobacco dependence and self-reported their health as good, very good or excellent.ConclusionThe prevalence of depressive symptoms among smokers receiving HIV care at HIV OPCs was high. Both depression and tobacco use screening and treatment should be included as part of ongoing care treatment plans at HIV OPCs.