Effect of HIV stigma on depressive symptoms, treatment adherence, and viral suppression among youth with HIV.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We estimated the effects of HIV stigma on mental health and treatment outcomes for youth with HIV (YWH).

Design

Secondary analysis of data for YWH ages 15-24 years in Western Kenya.

Methods

Participants completed a longitudinal survey (baseline, months 6 and 12) assessing socio-demographics, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and HIV stigma (10-item Wright scale). First viral load (VL) after enrollment was abstracted from records. We estimated risk of depressive symptoms (score > 4), nonadherence (missing ≥2 days of ART in a month), and detectable VL (≥50 copies/ml) for each standard deviation (SD) increase in HIV stigma score, adjusted for age and sex (and regimen in VL model). The generalizing estimating equation models in

SUBMITTER: Mugo C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10023427 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature