Effects of Depression Alleviation on Work Productivity and Income Among HIV Patients in Uganda

Abstract

Purpose Depression is common among people living with HIV, and it is associated with impaired work functioning. However, little research has examined whether depression alleviation improves work-related outcomes in this population, which is the focus of this analysis. A sample of 1028 depressed HIV clients in Uganda enrolled in a comparative trial of depression care models and were surveyed over 12 months. Serial regression analyses examined whether depression alleviation (measured by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire) was associated with change in self-reported weekly amount of hours worked and income earned, and whether these relationships were mediated by change in work-related self-efficacy. Among those with major depression, depression alleviation was associated with nearly a doubling of weekly hours worked in bivariate analysis. The relationship between depression alleviation and hours worked was partially mediated by change in work self-efficacy among those with major depression, as well as those with minor depression, in multivariate regression analysis that controlled for demographic and health covariates. Depression alleviation was not significantly associated with change in weekly income. These findings suggest that depression alleviation benefits work functioning at least in part through improved confidence to engage in work-related activities. Integration of depression care services into HIV care may be important for improving the economic well-being of people living with HIV.