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. 2025 Apr 2;25(1):320.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-06769-5.

Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Frank Kiwango  1   2   3 , Eric Mboya  4 , Florian Emanuel Ghaimo  5   6 , Neema Ng'unda  5   6 , Carl Mhina  5   7 , Editruda Gamassa  8   5 , Kim Madundo  8   5 , Ester Steven Mzilangwe  6 , Lyidia Vedasto Masika  5   9 , Iddi Haruna  10 , Saidi Bakari Kuganda  10 , Blandina Mmbaga  5   9 , Sylvia Kaaya  6
Affiliations

Prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and associated factors among adult people with HIV/AIDS in care and treatment clinic centers in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Frank Kiwango et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) are more prone to generalized anxiety disorder. There is a limited understanding of the prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and its associated risk factors among adult PWH in the Tanzanian context. This study aims to determine the prevalence of significant anxiety symptoms and related risk factors among adult PWH attending care and treatment clinics in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro Region.

Methods: We used a multistage random cluster sampling approach to select participants at four Care and treatment centers (CTCs) of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital, Majengo, and Pasua Health Centre, by location at tertiary, secondary, and primary health care levels. The seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening tool assessed levels of generalized anxiety symptoms with significance set at scores ≥ 10. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Bivariate analyses determined factors associated with significant anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 ≥ 10) at p-values [Formula: see text]0.20 for inclusion in the multivariate model. Adjusted prevalence ratios with confidence intervals are reported with significance set at a p-value of < 0.05.

Results: Out of 593 PWH participants, 12.48% screened positive for significant anxiety symptoms. Participants treated at the tertiary health facility level (aPR = 2.91, 95% CI: 2.48-3.41, P-value = 0.001), early adulthood 25-44 years (aPR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.27-2.42, P-value = 0.001), with higher anxiety sensitivity (aPR = 3.28, 95% CI: 2.08-5.19, P-value = 0.001), and higher levels of perceived social support (aPR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.34-3.27, P-value = 0.001) showed a higher likelihood of significant generalized anxiety symptoms.

Conclusions: Significant anxiety symptoms were common among adult PWH. Integrating routine generalized anxiety screening and raising PWH's and primary caregivers' awareness of GAD is recommended.

Trial registration: Clinical trial number not applicable.

Keywords: And GAD; Anxiety prevalence; HIV; PWH; Tanzania.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The MUHAS Senate Research and Publications Committee provided the ethical clearance (MUHAS-REC-07-2023-1828), while permission to conduct the study was sought from the Municipal Health Office and Medical Officers in Charge of the respective CTC clinics. All participants were verbally informed about the research and provided with information on what participation would entail and the potential risks and benefits. Participants were then asked to read the consent form and sign it to ensure written informed consent was attained from those agreeing to participate. Those who were diagnosed with clinically significant anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 ≥ 10) were referred to the mental health and psychiatric clinic of their respective or nearby facilities. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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