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Vol.2/No.4/2020

ASSESSMENT OF DEPRESSION AMONG HIV/AIDS PATIENTS IN SELECTED HOSPITALS IN MAKURDI TOWNSHIP, BENUE STATE

Martina Angbiandoo Amande, PhD
Department of Educational Psychology,
College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Benue State.

Robert Ter Mnaorga
Department of Educational Psychology,
College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Benue State.

Dorcas A. Yajir
Department of Educational Psychology,
College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Benue State.

Abstract
This investigation assesses depression among HIV/AIDS patients in some selected hospitals in Makurdi township(Federal Medical Centre, General Hospital North Bank and Bishop Murray Medical Centre). A total of 2,885 respondents constitute the population for the study. However, a sample size of 310 was representatively used, out of which 129 were male whereas 181 were female. They were aged between 20-61 years. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the participants. Hamilton rating scale for depression was adopted as an instrument for data collection. The result generated indicates that: there is a significant difference in the level of depression between inpatients and outpatients: hence HIV/AIDS inpatients were significantly more depressed than their outpatient counterparts [t(df=308)=7.25,P=0.1]. Also, female HIV/AIDS patients were significantly more depressed than their male counterparts (t(df=308)=4.45,p.<01). Nevertheless, the result further indicates that depression is more prevalent in illiterates and the unemployed than in the literate and employed HIV patients. Lastly, it was also found that, 64% of the patients were depressed ranging from mild to severe level, thereby resulting to low quality of life, increased health challenges and poor adherence to treatment. The researchers therefore, recommend that, HIV/AIDS patients need to be assessed, treated and counseled properly against depression early enough in order to avert its dangers. Also, that government at all levels should imbibe routine screening for better clinical results.

KEYWORDS: DEPRESSION, HIV/AIDS, INPATIENTS, OUTPATIENTS, HOSPITALS, PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

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