New tool to battle depression and HIV in Kenya

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) method used by psychiatrists to diagnose depression is to be introduced in Kenya to tackle the condition among HIV patients.

A study from Indiana University School of Medicine has found that the tool would work well in Kenya.

Lead author Patrick Monahan explained that the level of responsiveness and openness among Kenyan people would increase the ability of PHQ.

The research, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, found a 13 per cent incidence of major depression disorders among the 345 HIV/Aids patients included in the study. A 21 per cent incidence of other depressive disorders was also found.

"Due to lack of resources, depression in individuals with HIV/AIDS has been largely ignored in sub-Saharan Africa, even though 67 percent of the world's cases are there," Dr Monahan said.

"Yet we know that depression is associated with failure to adopt healthy protective behaviours and that people with less depression are more likely to engage in healthy behaviours such as using precautions if engaging in sex."