Background Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in HIV/AIDs patients, and its prevalence is three
times higher in HIV/AIDs patients. Globally, over 35 million people were living with HIV/AIDs, 24.7 million were in SubSaharan Africa. The study aims to estimate the prevalence and determine factors associated with depression among
HIV/AIDs adult patients in the ART unit at Banadir Hospital Mogadishu, Somalia.
Method A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 1 May and 1 July 2022. Samples were
recruited from the HIV/AIDs adult patients attending in ART unit at Banadir Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia. A validated
research tool, including sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and psycho-social characteristics, three items social
support scale, an 11-item HIV stigma scale, and patient health questions-9 (PHQ-9) were used. The interview was
conducted privet room in the ART unit. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with depression
at the significance level a=0.050.
Result The overall prevalence of depression among HIV/AIDs patients was 33.5% (95%CI=28.1–39.0). In the
multivariable logistic regression, three factors were associated with depression; the odds of depression were 3.415
times (95%CI=1.465–7.960) greater for those with poor social support than those with moderate-strong social
support. Those with moderate and poor treatment adherence had 14.307 times (95%CI=5.361–38.182) greater odds
of depression than those with good treatment adherence. Those who use substances had 3.422 times (95%CI=1.727–
6.781) greater odds of having depression than those who did not.
Conclusion People living with HIV in Mogadishu, Somalia, suffer from depression. The implementation to reduce
depression should be focused on empowering social support, developing an appropriate approach to increase
treatment adherence, and reducing or eliminating substance use.