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. 2019 Dec;23(12):3427-3434.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02526-4.

Suicidal Ideation Among Adults Re-engaging in HIV Care in Argentina

Lissa N Mandell  1 , Violeta J Rodriguez  1   2 , Aileen De La Rosa  1 , John M Abbamonte  1 , Omar Sued  3 , Diego Cecchini  4 , Isabel Cassetti  4 , Pedro Cahn  3 , Stephen M Weiss  1 , Deborah L Jones  5   6 ; COPA Study Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Suicidal Ideation Among Adults Re-engaging in HIV Care in Argentina

Lissa N Mandell et al. AIDS Behav. 2019 Dec.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Argentina has one of the highest suicide rates in Latin America and the Caribbean. Though people living with HIV are at increased risk for suicidal behavior, little research on suicide risk has been conducted among HIV-positive people in this region. This study examined risk factors for suicidal ideation among HIV-infected adults (N = 360) re-engaging in care in Argentina. Overall, 21% of participants reported suicidal ideation in the past week. In adjusted logistic regression models, younger age, increased depressive symptomatology, and drug abuse were associated with suicidal ideation (p < 0.05); decreased motivation for adherence and fewer months since initiating antiretroviral therapy approached significance (p = 0.07). Suicidal ideation was common in this sample of HIV-positive patients in Argentina. Findings highlight the need for routine risk assessment and interventions integrated into the HIV care continuum, addressing depression, substance use, and suicidal behavior.

Argentina tiene una de las tasas de suicidio más altas de América Latina y el Caribe. Aunque las personas que viven con el VIH tienen un mayor riesgo de comportamiento suicida, se ha realizado poca investigación sobre el riesgo de suicidio entre las personas con VIH en esta región. Este estudio examinó los factores de riesgo que contribuyen a los pensamientos suicidas entre adultos con VIH (N = 360) quienes están revinculando con el tratamiento en la Argentina. El 21% de los participantes reportaron pensamientos suicidas en la semana pasada. En modelos de regresión logística ajustada, ser más joven, sintomatología depresiva, y el abuso de drogas estuvieron asociados con pensamientos suicidas (p < .05). Menos motivación para cumplir con el tratamiento y menos meses desde el inicio del tratamiento antirretroviral se aproximaron a tener una correlación con pensamientos suicidas (p = .07). Los pensamientos suicidas fueron prevalentes en este grupo de pacientes con VIH en la Argentina. Los hallazgos resaltan la necesidad de evaluaciones de riesgo e intervenciones integradas para la depresión, el uso de drogas y el comportamiento suicida entre pacientes con VIH.

Keywords: Argentina; Engagement in care; HIV; South America; Suicidal ideation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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