Prevalence of Depression in HIV/AIDS in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Context: Depression and the prevalence of some deadly illnesses, such as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), have become major issues in both industrialized and developing nations. Objectives: Therefore, the aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of depression among Iranians living with HIV/AIDS, without time limits, up until October 18, 2024. Methods: The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 standards for systematic review and meta-analysis research served as the foundation for this review study. Using English MeSH keywords, we searched the following databases for epidemiological research conducted up until October 18, 2024: PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Scientific Information Database (SID), MagIran, Medlib, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar. STATA version 14 software was used to analyze the study results. Results: Overall, 20 studies including 4,471 Iranians with HIV/AIDS were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of depression was 56% (95% CI: 49% to 64%). The significant heterogeneity of 96.65% was caused by variations in methods, study populations, and regional characteristics. The prevalence of depression varied greatly across different regions of Iran. The southern region had the highest prevalence at 73%, followed by the southeast and southwest with 63% and 62%, respectively. However, the northwest region had the lowest occurrence rate at 34%. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that depression is significantly more prevalent among Iranians living with HIV/AIDS. Iranian health policymakers may find this evidence useful in developing appropriate preventive and treatment strategies to prevent and control depression among Iranians living with HIV/AIDS by improving access to mental health services, social and economic support, and utilizing technology and innovation.