Social determinants of depression among HIV positive patients in Karachi, Pakistan

3^rd International Conference on HIV/AIDS, STDs & STIs

November 30 - December 02, 2015 Atlanta, USA

Sahreen Malik Bhanji

Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J AIDS Clin Res

Abstract :

The advancement in treatment regimens, in the form of various anti-retroviral treatments (ART) for treating HIV/ AIDS, has helped its victims to achieve a longer life expectancy (Biswas, 2007). However, the challenge now for them is to live a better quality and mentally healthy life. Asante (2012) states that once a person is diagnosed with HIV, he is likely to suffer from low self- esteem, social isolation, and poor psychological well-being, eventually leading to inability to cope with the entire situation. The prevalence of depression in HIV/AIDS patients has been reported in different studies to be ranging from 22%� 45%, compared to 5% and 15% prevalence in the general population (Biswas, 2007; Buckingham, Schrage, &Cournos, 2013; Kilmarx, 2009; Mello, Segurado, &Malbergier, 2010). This suggests that depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses observed among HIV-positive individuals with greater reported prevalence than the general population. Depression related to certain outcomes and risk behaviors, like poor adherence to medication regimen, feelings of self-neglect, apathy, forgetfulness, and decreased immune function (Asante, 2012). Some evidences suggest that it may also be associated with increased mortality in HIV-infected individuals (Overman& Anderson, 2001). While these studies in the existing literature suggest a high rate of depressive illness and symptoms among people living with HIV, they have not been able to focus on the definite causes of depression among this group.

Biography :

Sahreen Malik Bhanji has completed her MScN (2014) and BScN (2010) from The Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, Karachi, Pakistan. She has worked as a Registered Nurse in Medical-Surgical Ward at the Aga Khan University Hospital from August 2010 till August 2012 in various capacities. She worked as a Nursing Intern in Medical-Surgical Ward at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi; from August 2010 till August 2011; as a Team Leader from November, 2011 to August, 2012; as a Special Care Unit (SCU) Nurse from June, 2012 to August, 2012; and as Clinical Preceptor in Medical-Surgical Ward for year IV BScN student for two months from May, 2012 to June, 2012. She has published more than 17 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association and Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences.

Email: sahreen0707@gmail.com