Prevalence of Anxiety Disorder and Associated Factors among Voluntary Counseling and HIV Testing Clients at Governmental Health Centers in 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abdissa Boka Dirriba

doi:10.18502/ijps.v16i4.7226

Abdissa Boka Dirriba Department of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v16i4.7226

Keywords: Anxiety Disorder; Counseling; HIV; Mental Disorders; Social Stigma

Abstract

Objective: More than 450 million people are considered to be suffered from mental problem in the world nowadays. In Ethiopia, these problems constitute for 12.45% of the impact of diseases and around 12% of individuals are estimated to be develop any form of mental problems, of which 2% are severe cases. One of the most psychiatric problem that cause substantial functional impairment and suffering is anxiety disorders.

To assess the prevalence of anxiety disorder and associated factors among voluntary counseling and HIV testing (VCT) clients of Addis Ababa governmental health centers, Ethiopia, 2017.

Method: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted at Addis Ababa governmental health centers from February 15 to March 10, 2017. A Cluster sampling technique was used and 770 study participants were interviewed. Data were entered into EPI INFO version 2002 and transferred to SPSS version 19.0 windows and was analyzed. The logistic regression of analyses was used.

Results: The prevalence of anxiety disorder among VCT clients was 39.2%. Factors that statistically significant with an anxiety disorder: fear of stigma or social discrimination (AOR = 3.01, 95%CI: 1.67, 5.42), history of haven’t been tested before for HIV (AOR = 3.97, 95%CI: 2.32, 6.81), and fear of having a positive result (AOR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.55, 4.36); the burden of family size was marginally significant at 0.05 level of significance (P = 0.075).

Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety problems among voluntary counseling and HIV testing clients of Addis Ababa governmental health centers was high. Fear of stigma, fear of having a positive result, and no history of a test before were the most factors associated with anxiety disorders. I recommended that increasing awareness in reducing stigma/discrimination, appropriate psychiatry counseling for individuals and community at the health center, and Addis Ababa Health Bureau should be arranged.