DefinePK

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate suicide risk among HIV/AIDS individuals in comparison with HIV negative individuals. The sample of the present study comprised of two hundred participants (N = 200), including two groups: hundred people diagnosed as HIV positive, and hundred people diagnosed as HIV negative. In both groups, male and female adults were ranging in ages between twenty to fifty years with educational background of primary, intermediate and above, from Peshawar and Islamabad.  The Suicide Probability Scale and a self-constructed structured interview was administered individually and sought out demographic information from the participants. This helped in the collection of qualitative data pertaining to their physical illness as well as the extent of their emotional disturbance. t-test analysis was carried out to analyze the data. Results indicated significant differences among people diagnosed as HIV positive and people diagnosed as HIV negative on the suicide probability scale (t = 8.534, df = 196, p<.001). It is concluded that the rate of suicide risk was high in people diagnosed as HIV and AIDS. These research findings have implications for endorsing attention to mental health provision, emotional support and social context. Limitations of the present study were also discussed.