Self Esteem, Depression and Life Satisfaction among HIV out Patients Receiving Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate self esteem, depression and life satisfaction in a sample of HIV patients receiving highly active anti retroviral therapy (HAART) attending a Nigerian tertiary health institution. Study Design: The descriptive cross sectional study design was used for the study. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out at the HIV/AIDS clinic of the university of Nigeria teaching hospital Enugu in south east Nigeria between the months of January and February 2023. Methodology: A total of 480 HIV/AIDS positive patients on HAART aged between 23 to 61 years attending the HIV/AIDS clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching hospital Enugu who consented to participate in the study were assessed for self esteem, life satisfaction and depression with the Rosenberg self esteem scale, the life satisfaction scale by Diener and the Beck’s depression inventory version two. Results: Results revealed that 53.7% of the HIV patients on HAART manifested no signs of depression; 63.8% had high self esteem and 73.1% were satisfied with their lives; however 25.2%; 15.8% and 5.5% showed signs of mild, moderate and severe depression respectively; 36.2% had low self esteem, whereas 26.9% indicated not being satisfied with their lives. Conclusion: Following the benefits of HAARTS on the management of HIV/AIDS patients as noticed in the study, there is need for health workers to ensure strict adherence on HAART regimen for optimum suppression of HIV as recommended by The World Health Organization; furthermore, there is need to ensure continuous provision of psychological support to all HIV/AIDS patients as a way of reducing the psychosocial sequelae associated with HIV/AIDS.