AIDS, the acquired immune – deficiency syndrome (sometimes called “Slim Disease”) is a newly described, usual fatal illness caused by a retrovirus known as the Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) which breaks down the body‟s immune system, leaving the victim vulnerable, to a host of life-threatening opportunistic infectious, neurological disorders or unusual malignancies among the special feature of HIV infection is that a person once infected will be infected for life. Strictly speaking, the term AIDS refers only to the last stage of HIV infection. AIDS can be called our modern pandemic, affecting both industrialized and developing countries.
A number of social conflicts such as fear of exposure of diagnosis and being a member of a stigmatized group are commonly experienced by people who have HIV. Crisis Points – Several Crisis Points occur during the course of HIV disease. The diagnosis of HIV may be first crisis with the initial diagnosis the person often feels intense anxiety, fear, anger and guilt and may act impulsively. High levels of anxiety and depression may continue for 2-3 months and may be exhibited in agitation, risky sexual behavior, crying and suicidal ideation and attempts. In fact symptoms of depression and anxiety may overlap with HIV symptoms complicating diagnostic and treatment efforts.
The National AIDS Control Organization of India (NACO) estimates the number of people within India as 5-1 million in 2004. India has the second highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS with the world after South Africa. India Accounts for almost to persons of the million people living with HIV/AIDS globally.
The objectives of the study was to assess level of depression and coping strategies among HIV Clients. A descriptive Research design was adopted for this study. The study was conducted in We Care Social Service Society, Singaperumal among 100 clients. The data was collected from HIV Clients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria by using Beck's depression Inventory and Lazarus coping Inventory. The Interview was conducted in Tamil. Ethical aspects were considered throughout the study. The conceptual framework adopted for this study was modified Pender‟s Health Promotion Model.
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The study findings revealed that among 100 HIV Client, 11% of HIV clients had mild depression, 15% of HIV Clients had sever depression and 74% of HIV clients had moderated depression. It also revealed that 3% of HIV Clients had inadequate coping, 7% of HIV Clients had adequate coping and 90% of HIV Clients had moderately adequate coping.
The Psychiatry Nurse, as a Nurse Educator should aim at reorienting general education system and professional curriculum to suitably incorporate the preventive measures and management strategies regarding HIV. As a Psychiatric Nurse the investigator has provided information to the entire subjects about HIV and method to overcome the problems
