Citation

Lin CC, Lee YT, Yang HJ. Asia Pac. J. Public Health 2017; 29(3): 219-228.

Affiliation

4 Department of Family and Community Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1010539517697790

PMID

28434253

Abstract

This study aims at determining the level of depression and suicidal status of adult HIV test-seekers. Of the total enrolled 850 males, almost 50% reported some risk behaviors, 38.9% experienced depression, and 7.2% had suicidal ideation. Subjects with risky sexual behaviors in terms of repeated HIV test, had a history of sexually transmitted disease, engaged in one-night stands, or did not use condoms all the time with causal sexual partners were more likely to have depression. Furthermore, subjects who were bisexual/homosexual, engaged in Internet sex, engaged in one-night stands, or used addictive drugs within the past 6 months were more likely to experience suicidal ideation. The HIV testers are at risk of experiencing depression and suicidal ideation; each is associated with different types of risky sexual behaviors. It is essential for the health authority to further provide mental health services for HIV testers and to draw up an effective strategy in reducing unprotected sexual behaviors.

Language: en

Keywords

HIV testing; correlates; depression; psychological distress; risky sexual behavior; suicidal ideation