TY - JOUR PY - 2023// TI - Prevalence of potentially traumatic events and symptoms of depression, anxiety, hazardous alcohol use, and post-traumatic stress disorder among people with HIV initiating HIV care in Cameroon JO - BMC psychiatry A1 - Parcesepe, Angela M. A1 - Filiatreau, Lindsey M. A1 - Ebasone, Peter Vanes A1 - Dzudie, Anastase A1 - Pence, Brian W. A1 - Wainberg, Milton A1 - Yotebieng, Marcel A1 - Anastos, Kathryn A1 - Pefura-Yone, Eric A1 - Nsame, Denis A1 - Ajeh, Rogers A1 - Nash, Denis SP - e150 EP - e150 VL - 23 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: This study explored the relationship between specific types of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and symptoms of mental health disorders among people with HIV (PWH) in Cameroon.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 426 PWH in Cameroon between 2019-2020. Multivariable log binominal regression was used to estimate the association between exposure (yes/no) to six distinct types of PTE and symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score > 9), PTSD (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 score > 30), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale score > 9), and hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score > 7 for men; > 6 for women).

RESULTS: A majority of study participants (96%) reported exposure to at least one PTE, with a median of 4 PTEs (interquartile range: 2-5). The most commonly reported PTEs were seeing someone seriously injured or killed (45%), family members hitting or harming one another as a child (43%), physical assault or abuse from an intimate partner (42%) and witnessing physical assault or abuse (41%). In multivariable analyses, the prevalence of PTSD symptoms was significantly higher among those who reported experiencing PTEs during childhood, violent PTEs during adulthood, and the death of a child. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was significantly higher among those who reported experiencing both PTEs during childhood and violent PTEs during adulthood. No significant positive associations were observed between specific PTEs explored and symptoms of depression or hazardous alcohol use after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS: PTEs were common among this sample of PWH in Cameroon and associated with PTSD and anxiety symptoms. Research is needed to foster primary prevention of PTEs and to address the mental health sequelae of PTEs among PWH.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1471-244X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04630-1 ID - ref1 ER -