Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41402881›Full record

ArticleBMC psychology2025

A cross-sectional survey investigating the burden of, and psychosocial factors related to, psychological distress among people living with HIV in central Tanzania.

Tiffany E Gooden, Jacktan J Ruhighira, Zainab Mashombo, Janet Mtenga, Emily Kansigo, Paul Sarumbo, Aneth Ngailo, Sheila Greenfield, Semira Manaseki-Holland, G Neil Thomas and 3 more

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Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Tiffany E GoodenDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. g.tiffany@bham.ac.uk.
Jacktan J RuhighiraDepartment of Medical Physiology, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Zainab MashomboDodoma Regional Referral Hospital, Care and Treatment Center, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Janet MtengaMakole Health Center, Care and treatment Center, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Emily KansigoInternational Center for AIDS program (ICAP), Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Paul SarumboDodoma Regional Referral Hospital, Care and Treatment Center, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Aneth NgailoMakole Health Center, Care and treatment Center, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Sheila GreenfieldDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Semira Manaseki-HollandDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
G Neil ThomasDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Krishnarajah NirantharakumarDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Stephen KibusiDepartment of Public Health, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Mkhoi L MkhoiDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPsychological distress is a transdiagnostic factor associated with various mental health conditions which are highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH). The aim of this study was to identify the burden of, and psychosocial factors related to, psychological distress among PLWH in Dodoma, Tanzania.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among PLWH aged ≥ 18 years recruited consecutively from two healthcare facilities, in person (currently in care) and by phone (lost to care). A questionnaire was interviewer-administered comprising the Kessler Psychological Distress 6 Scale (K6) and questions regarding psychosocial factors including physical health, money/finances, employment/work, family/friends, stigma/disclosure and other HIV-related factors. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of distress for key sub-groups using evidence-based thresholds from the K6. Differences in psychosocial factors related to distress were investigated using multivariate regression. Regressions were adjusted for age, sex, tribe, employment status, education level, relationship status, residential type (urban/rural), care status, number of children, duration of living with HIV and study site.

results461 PLWH participated in the study; 67% were aged ≥ 36 years, 71% were female and 58% were currently in care. More than half of PLWH (n = 270; 59%) were experiencing mild to severe distress; with 52% mildly distressed. PLWH employed by someone and PLWH self-employed had lower odds of distress compared to unemployed PLWH (aORs of 0.30, 95% CI 0.14-0.65 and 0.32, 95% CI 0.16-0.64, respectively). PLWH in a relationship also had lower odds of distress compared to PLWH not in a relationship (aOR 0.43, 95% CI 0.28-0.67). PLWH diagnosed > ten years ago had significantly higher odds of having psychological distress compared to PLWH diagnosed < five years prior (aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.14-3.41). Physical health, money/finances and family/friends were associated with distress; however, factors differed between study sites, age, residential type, employment, relationship status and care status.

conclusionsA concerningly high proportion of PLWH are suffering from mild to severe distress which can manifest into depression, anxiety, substance misuse or other mental health conditions. Further investigations are needed to understand the interaction between psychosocial factors and distress and how distress can be prevented and reduced.

Indexed as

Cost of IllnessHIV InfectionsPsychological DistressStress, PsychologicalAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSocial StigmaSurveys and QuestionnairesTanzaniaYoung AdultHIVMental healthPsychological distressTanzaniaTransdiagnostic factors

Identifiers

PMID41402881
PMCPMC12822005

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.