Smoking, depression, and gender in low-income African Americans with HIV/AIDS

Behav Med. 2011 Jul;37(3):77-80. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2011.583946.

Abstract

Individuals with HIV/AIDS have disproportionately high depression and smoking prevalence rates. Smokers with HIV/AIDS are more susceptible to opportunistic infections, smoking-related illnesses, and mortality. African Americans (AAs) comprise nearly half of newly diagnosed HIV+ cases. We examined the relationship among smoking, depression, and gender in un- or under-insured AA patients (N = 289) at an urban community HIV/AIDS clinic in the southeastern US. Approximately 33% met criteria for a depressive disorder and 37% endorsed current smoking status. Men were more likely than women to be current smokers and depressed participants were more likely to smoke than non-depressed participants. Women had significantly higher rates of depression compared to men. Both depression and male gender independently predicted current smoking status. Depression and smoking are likely to co-occur in HIV/AIDS patients; however, standard smoking cessation interventions often exclude smokers with comorbid psychiatric and/or medical illnesses. Interventions addressing these comorbidities are warranted.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Depression / complications
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Poverty / psychology*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking / psychology
  • United States