Ethnic density and prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among patients with hiv infection in Sokoto, Nigeria—A control study

Background: Previous studies among people living with HIV infection suggested that prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was high. In addition, among nonHIV infected patients, ethnic density influence the prevalence. The present study was aimed to determine the prevalence and effects of ethnic density on psychiatric morbidity among these patients in Sokoto, Nigeria. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who had been diagnosed with HIV infection in a teaching hospital in Sokoto. Questionnaire relating to sociodemographic variables and psychiatric morbidity were administered to the patients. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 while test for significance was set at P < 0.05. Result: The mean age of the patient was 32 ± 9 years (range = 12 63), male being older than the female. Of the patients, 71% were married while and about two third were of Islamic religion. Twenty seven percent had no formal education and were mainly Hausa/Fulani ethnicity. Seven percent of the patients had definite depression while 8% had definite anxiety. When the subjects were dichotomized to Hausa/Fulani and others, they were similar with regard to age and gender (χ = 4.43; P = 0.49 and χ = 0.22; P = 0.64 respectively). Across the ethnicity (Hausa/Fulani and others), the subjects differ significantly with regard to religion (χ = 0.68; P = 0.00), marital status (χ = 15.05; P = 0.00), education (χ = 30.56; P = 0.00) and employment status (χ = 9.81; P = 0.01). The Hausa/Fulani ethnic group had less psychiatric morbidity. In addition, marital status had significant pathoplastic effect on depression across ethnicity (χ = 0.42; P = 0.02). Conclusion: Ethnic density was associated with decrease prevalence of common mental disorder among patients with HIV infection. Environmental manipulation may play a role in the management of this patient.