Abstract
Depression is the most frequently detected and preventable mental illness among people with human immunodeficiency syndrome, with rates two to four times higher than in the general population. Currently, depression is estimated to affect 350 million people worldwide. To assess the prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients attending antiretroviral therapy clinic at Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Central Ethiopia. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 01 to September 30, 2021, at Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia. A total of 420 individuals were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. After informed consent was obtained from each study participant, data were collected through face-to-face interviews, observations, and document reviews. Subsequently, the data were entered into EPI-Info Version 7 and analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21. Variables with p-values less than 0.25 in the univariable logistic regression analysis were subsequently included in the multivariable logistic regression analysis to account for potential confounding factors. The association was measured using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and variables with p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The prevalence of depression was 52.4% (95% CI 47.6-57.1). Factors significantly associated with depression among HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy included employment status [AOR = 0.22(95% CI 0.13-0.36)], the patient's most CD4 count [AOR = 6.99 (95% CI 2.81-17.38)], duration of months on antiretroviral therapy [AOR = 5.05 (95% CI 2.38-10.74)] and presence of chronic non-communicable diseases [AOR = 7.90 (95% CI 4.21-14.85)]. The highest proportion of HIV-positive patients taking antiretroviral drugs exhibited depression. Employment was identified as a preventive factor, whereas having a low CD4 count, recently initiating antiretroviral therapy, and having chronic non-communicable diseases were associated with increased odds of depression among HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy. There need to strengthen mental health screening and treat depression among HIV-positive patients, particularly by targeting identified factors.