Screening HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) among HIV positive patients attending antiretroviral therapy in South Wollo, Ethiopia

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research Vol. 85; pp. 37 - 41
• Main Authors: Tsegaw, Million, Andargie, Gashaw, Alem, Getnet, Tareke, Minale
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; AIDS Dementia Complex - diagnosis; AIDS Dementia Complex - drug therapy; AIDS Dementia Complex - epidemiology; Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational Status; Ethiopia - epidemiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; HIV; HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; People living with HIV/AIDS; Prevalence; Psychiatry; Risk; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; HIV; People living with HIV/AIDS; HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.10.016

The vast majority of people living with HIV/AIDS reside in low and middle income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Despite the huge number of service users in the local area, cognitive disorder among HIV patients has not been extensively studied and there is a dearth of knowledge on the subject. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder among people living with HIV/AIDS in antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics. Institution based cross sectional study was conducted from April to May, 2015 at Dessie Referral Hospital & Kombolcha Health Center. International HIV Dementia Scale was used to screen HIV associated neurocognitive deficits. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess predictors of neurocognitive disorders. The risk of HIV associated neurocognitive disorder was 36.4%. Those who had CD4 count of 500 cells/dl or less (AOR = 2.368 (1.524, 3.680)), no formal education (AOR = 4.287 (2.619, 7.016)), poor medication adherence (AOR = 1.487 (1.010, 2.180)) and older age (AOR = 3.309 (1.259, 8.701)) were found to be significantly associated with HIV associated neurocognitive disorders. The risk of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder was found to be high among people living with HIV/AIDS. This emphasizes the need of regular cognitive screening for early identification and appropriate intervention.