Mental health service utilization among patients followed up in tertiary HIV/AIDS clinics in Turkey: A need for integrated care

İNCE GULİYEV E., Yıldız Sevgi D., Gündüz A., METE B., Büyükgök D., Kumbasar Karaosmanoğlu H., ...More

International Journal of STD and AIDS, vol.36, no.3, pp.185-194, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/09564624241301491
  • Journal Name: International Journal of STD and AIDS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Environment Index, Gender Studies Database, MEDLINE, Public Affairs Index
  • Page Numbers: pp.185-194
  • Keywords: help-seeking, HIV, HIV psychiatry, Mental health, service use
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objectives: Mental health (MH) care for people living with HIV (PLWH) emerges as an important unmet need, yet there are no integrated HIV-MH clinics in Turkey. Our aim is to determine MH service use and its associated factors in PLWH followed up in the HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in Istanbul/Turkey. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics of the Infectious Diseases (ID) departments in hospitals affiliated with the ACTHIV-IST Study Group. Structured interviews were performed using questionnaires that covered psychiatric state, medical history, and help-seeking behavior. Results: Out of 172 outpatients, 121 (70.3%) reported MH complaints after infection, and 65.6% felt a need to see MH professionals. Among those, 59% shared their MH distress with the ID team. However, only 20.7% applied to an MH service, and 16.5% received psychiatric treatment. Previous MH diagnoses (AOR = 4.11; 95%CI = 1.26–13.39), sharing the disease with the ID team (AOR = 4.18; 95%CI = 1.24–14.11), and being hospitalized due to HIV (AOR = 6.54; 95%CI = 1.21–35.39) emerged as the predictors of MH service use among those who would like to see an MH professional in logistic regression. Conclusions: Closer contact with the healthcare system may increase the chances of PLWH receiving MH care. Thus, integrating MH services in HIV/AIDS care would help reach more PLWH who are distressed.