mHealth and Anxiety and Depression Levels of Men With HIV Who Have Sex With Men

Saturday, 27 July 2019

Odaleia de Oliveira Farias, MSN, RN1
Ivana Cristina de Lima Maia, PhD2
Samyla Citó Pedrosa, MSN1
Marli Teresinha Gimeniz Galvão, PhD3
Gilmara Holanda da Cunha, PhD1
Vanessa da Frota Santos4
(1)Nursing Department of the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil., Federal University of Ceará-UFC, Brazil., Fortaleza, Brazil
(2)State University of Ceará, Brazil., State University of Ceará-UFC, Brazil., Fortaleza, Brazil
(3)Professor of Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing, Federal University of Ceará-UFC, PhD (2002), both in Tropical Diseases Paulista State University-UNESP. He joined the teaching career in 1992 as Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, UNESP Botucatu-SP. Currently he is Professor of the Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing, Federal, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil
(4)Universidade Federal of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of mobile health (Mhealth) on the levels anxiety and depression of men living with HIV/AIDS who have sex with men (HSHHIV).

Methods:

It is a secondary study, part of an open clinical trial developed in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil, at The Carlos Ribeiro Health Center, between August 2016 and November 2017, using a four months follow-up. The final sample included 103, 57 patients for the control group and 46 dor the intervention, all men with HIV/AIDS who have sex with men, ≥ 18 years old . The intervention was implemented through eight bidirectional telephone messages, sent via Whatsapp®, with a frequency of 15 days. A form was filled with sociodemographic and clinical questions, life habits, anxiety and depression scale and the individual lifestyle scale, during a interview. Participants were accessed twice, at the base line and after the four months follow-up. The main variables were the scores on the level of anxiety and depression.

Results:

The majority of subjects were <29 years old (53.4%), single (80.6%), had a family income ≤ two minimum wages (72.8%), active occupational status (63.1%) and schooling ≤ 12 years (61.2%). Those with less than three years of diagnosis (63.1%), with undetectable viral load (57.4%) and CD4 + T lymphocyte levels ≥ 350 (85.3%) prevailed. Most participantes presented inadequate health lifestyle (61.2%). Regarding the level of anxiety and depression, 43.7% of the participants were classified as anxious and 17.5% as anxious and depressed. All participantes who were depressed were also anxious. Anxiety and depression reduction were significantly associated to the time (p=0.001), but were not associated with the teletherapy intervention (p=0.658).

Conclusion:

Prevalence of mental disorders in HSHHIV is high and should be considered. There was a reduction in anxiety and depression scores for the participants of both groups with time, however, there was no statistically significant relationship between intervention and outcome.