https://doi.org/10.4081/acbr.2023.231
Psychological distress, coping strategies and social support among HIV positive patients in Calabar, Nigeria
Submitted: 15 July 2022
Accepted: 19 December 2022
Published: 20 March 2023
Accepted: 19 December 2022
Abstract Views: 340
PDF: 189
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection substantially impacts psychological and emotional wellbeing via various mechanisms. The role of coping strategies and social support in the mental health of People Living with HIV (PLWH) is under-investigated. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their relationship with coping and social support among PLWH. This cross-sectional study involved 251 patients selected using systematic sampling from the HIV Clinic of the General Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. A sociodemographic questionnaire was administered along with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measure anxiety and depression. Participants were also administered the 32-item Coping Strategies Inventory and the Oslo Social Support Scale to measure coping strategies and social support, respectively. The respondents were mostly female (72.5%) and had a mean age of 35.3 [SD=10.9]. The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 27.1% and 19.5%, respectively. Both anxiety and depression had significant negative associations with problem-focused engagement, emotion-focused engagement and problem-focused disengagement, and significant positive associations with emotion-focused disengagement (p<0.01). Social support was poor and had a significant negative association with anxiety, significant positive associations with problem-focused engagement, emotion-focused engagement and problem-focused disengagement, and significant negative associations with emotion- focused disengagement (p<0.01). Our study highlights the importance of coping strategies and social support among PLWH. Based on findings, adaptive coping and social support protect PLWH from deterioration in their mental health. In addition, PLWH with good social support might cope better with the diagnosis.
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How to Cite
Edet, B. E., Odo, M. O., Kolawole, O., Essien, E., Okafor, C. J., & Atu. , G. E. . E. (2023). Psychological distress, coping strategies and social support among HIV positive patients in Calabar, Nigeria. Annals of Clinical and Biomedical Research, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/acbr.2023.231
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