Prevalence of Depression among Active TB and TB/HIV Patients in Kisumu County

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four people have been affected by a mental health disorder at one point in their lives.[1] Kenya’s mental disorders account for 5.9% of the total global burden.[2] Mental disorders like depression is often comorbid with TB and HIV and disproportionately affects those with lower socio-economic income. Kisumu, a city in Nyanza province, has the highest HIV and TB prevalence in Kenya. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among TB non-coinfected and TB/HIV co-infected patients at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and the Clinical Research Center (CRC) in Kisumu County. This study evaluated the social factors associated with depression, the effect of TB/HIV comorbidity on mental health, as well as the perceptions regarding mental disorders among mental health professionals. The severity of depression was measured using the Beck’s Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). A total of 51 eligible patients attending the TB clinic at JOOTRH and CRC participated in the study; 26 females and 25 males. The results indicated that 31% of the participants suffered from depression of varying severity. Among the factors studied, the side effects from anti-TB drugs and the history of mental illness significantly affected depression, which agreed well with other studies. This study also revealed no significant association of depression between TB and TB/HIV co-infected patients. For such study, it was recommended to take into account a larger sample size of patients, the duration of their taking anti-TB medications and substance abuse. [1] Mental Disorders Affect One in Four People. WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015. [2] Close Treatment Gap for Mental Health Patients, Report Says. The Pharmaceutical Journal (2013): n. pag. Web