Abstract

JANOTA, María Gamba; HERNANDEZ MELENDREZ, Digna Edelsys  and  BAYARRE VEA, Héctor Demetrio. Pchysological characterization of people living with HIV seen in two hospitals of Luanda, Republic of Angola. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2010, vol.26, n.1. ISSN 0864-2125.

Introduction: HIV/AIDS is a problem for public health in Republic of Angola due to its mortality, morbidity and psychological repercussion on patients, family and carers. Objectives: to characterize from a pchysological perspective to people living with HIV seen in two hospitals of Angola during March-May, 2007. Methods: a descriptive study was conducted in people living with HIV seen in Esperança and Military hospitals from Luanda. By simple and randomized sampling we selected 80 patients in each institution fulfilling the following inclusion criteria: aged 20-60, without mental disorders and with more of 3 months of diagnosis. Variables included: depression, anxiety, self-evaluation, attitude and satisfaction measured through application of five instruments. Information was processed by computer and results were expressed in absolute and relative values. Results: all patients showed some degree of anxiety and predominance of high category classifying the 80% of persons seen in Esperança hospital and the 95% of those from Military one whereas the severe depression affected to 81.25 and 92.50%, respectively. The inappropriate self-evaluation was present in 58.75 and 66.25% of both groups whereas the 63.75 and 62.50% also of both groups had negative attitudes; the 55 and 68.75% was unsatisfied with care received. Only there were significant differences among the groups in variable anxiety. Conclusions: In studies there was predominance of high level anxiety, severe depression, inappropriate self-evaluation, negative attitudes and dissatisfaction with care received.

Keywords : People living with HIV; depression; anxiety; self-evaluation; attitude.