Table 1 Descriptive Characteristics of the Study Participants at Baseline (N = 326)

Age in years

39.0 (10.1)

18–75

Sex: Women

192 (59)

 Employed/self-employed/housewife/student

283 (87)

 Not employed

43 (13)

 Primary School

6.8 (0.8)

2–8

 Secondary School

4.4 (1.8)

2–8

 Non-degree/Collage

3.0 (1.2)

1–4

 Degree/University

3.1 (2.0)

1–6

General HIV knowledge

3.6 (3.9)

1–8

Knowledge about ART

2.8 (0.6)

1–4

Hope

2.6 (0.5)

1–4

 ^aDepression scores

8.0 (5.6)

0–27

 Self-esteem

3.1 (0.6)

1–4

 Stigma

3.6 (1.0)

1–5

 ^bPerceived social support

2.3 (0.5)

1–3

 Local scale of stress scores (msongo)

18.4 (4.3)

0–20

Local scale of depression scores (sonona)

38.1 (6.0)

0–64

 Adherence to medication

1.7 (0.7)

1–3

 Clinic visits

12.4 (4.6)

1–38

 Hemoglobin(g/dl)

11.2 (2.0)

5–16

 CD4+ T cell (cells/mm3)

338.6 (188.6)

0–1212

 Weight (kg)

59.9 (10.8)

30–105