The Psychosocial Challenges of People Living With Hiv/Aids: A Case of Awassa and Dilla Towns
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Date
2007-04
Authors
Hailemariam, Getahun
Journal Title
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Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study examined the psychosocial challenges particularly that of
depression, anxiety, stress, fear, stigma and discrimination of people
living with HIV/AIDS, N=200 (lOOmale, 100female), and the coping
strategies they employed. Data were collected by means of structured
interview schedule. Case study and focus group discussion were used to
gather in·depth individual data. Depression, anxiety and stress were
assessed by using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
(CES'D), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-
10) respectively and others by a set of items developed by the researcher.
Results revealed that 56 % of the participants experienced clinically
significant symptoms of depression with mean score of 2.60 and 40 % of
the respondents showed clinically significant anxiety symptoms with
mean score of 32.31.The mean score of perceived stress was 24.52
(S.D=5.64) where 50.50 % of the respondents scored above the mean. The
mean score of stigma and discrimination using Likert type scale was
32.94 (S.D=11.34) where 58.4 % of the respondents scored above the
mean. The participants of the case study also showed episodes of
depression, anxiety, stress, fear, stigma and discrimination.
Statistically s ig nificant differences were found between males' and
females ' scores of depression and stigma and discrimination at 0.05
level with 95% confidence interval and 191 and 194 degrees of freedom
respective ly. Females participants were found to experience more
depression and stigma and discrimination than male participan·t s . No
statistically significant differences were found between males' and
females' scores of anxiety and stress.
The most often utilized coping strategies identified by the participants
were: listening to music, Praying to God, try on their own to deal with the
problem, day dreaming and talk to a friend. The participants also
reported low utilization of certain maladaptive coping strategies such as
alcohol and chewing 'chat'.
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Keywords
Psychosocial Challenges of, People Living With Hiv/Aids