Abstract:
This was a cross-sectional descriptive research study, the objectives of which were to assess
the mental health of persons infected with HIV and those with AIDS at Nonsaat Hospital, Nonsaat
District, Udon Thani Province. The data were collected from 66 persons by direct interviews
conducted in an area in front of the counseling room in the period January-March 2008. Thereafter, the data were analyzed using a computer program. The statistics analyzed included frequency,
percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation. The results showed that the persons infected
with HIV and the AIDS patients had a 62.1 percent lower level of mental health than the general
population. When considered by dimension, the study showed that, at the first dimension, HIV/
AIDS patients had a mental capacity 74.2 percent lower than the average person; the second
dimension, 66.7 percent lower; at the third dimension, for the persons infected with HIV and the
AIDS patients, the percentages were 34.8 and 36.4 respectively; and at the fourth dimension, the
percentage was 47. The study suggested that, besides promoting preventive measures and fostering
good mental health among this group, physicians need to provide serious and continuous help for
such patients.
