title: Perceived family support and depression among people living with HIV/AIDS in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is emerging as a highly prevalent psychiatric condition among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Perceived family support (PFS) buffers depression among chronic disease patients. However, a similar relationship among PLWHA is unexplored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between PFS and depression among PLWHA in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, depression was measured by Beck Depression Inventory Ia. Perceived family support was measured by Nepali Family Support and Difficulties Scale. The status of depression was compared between 208 PLWHA and 208 HIV-negative participants. The relationship between PFS and depression was examined only among PLWHA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among each of the 208 participants, the number of depressed PLWHA (n = 61,29.3%) was higher than that of HIV-negative participants (n = 13,6.2%; P < .001). Perceived family support had a negative association with depression in PLWHA (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.08-0.53).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Nepal, PLWHA display a higher level of depression than HIV-negative people, and a lower level of PFS is associated with depression among PLWHA. Improved family support might be helpful in reducing depression among Nepalese PLWHA.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Sadhana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Krishna C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Poudel
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Poudel-Tandukar
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Basu Dev
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yasuoka
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Masamine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jimba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support