Presence of Older Adolescents in the Household is Associated with Depressive Symptoms Among Women Living with HIV in Kenya

Global Systematic Review of Common Mental Health Disorders in Adults Living with HIV

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

By reviewing the most recent common mental health disorders (CMHD) studies in people living with HIV (PLWH) (2018-2020), this review discusses the prevalence of CMHD, factors associated with CMHD in PLWH, mental health in PLWH from vulnerable groups, the impact of CMHD on HIV disease progression and adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the efficacy of different treatment approaches.

RECENT FINDINGS

After screening for eligibility 142 studies were included in the final systematic review. Only 27% of studies were conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa, which carries the highest burn of HIV disease globally. Despite the well-established increased risk of CMHD in PLWH, the current prevalence remains high, with studies reporting 28%-62% of PLWH having mental health symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Despite the significant challenges that CMHDs present to successful HIV treatment, there are many mental health treatments and interventions which can improve outcomes in PLWH and opportunities to task-shift and integrate mental health care with HIV care.

The Psychosocial Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth Living with HIV in Western Kenya

The objective of this study was to assess psychosocial effects of COVID-19 among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in Kenya and to assess the feasibility of conducting behavioral surveys by phone. We adapted our protocol to administer telephone rather than in-person follow-up surveys and included questions about COVID-19. The majority of participants (99%) reported having heard of COVID-19; 23% reported no longer being able to go outside, 17% reported that they could no longer go to their regular clinic for medical care, and 3% reported that they could no longer get medication refills. PHQ-9 screening identified 9% (n = 45) with mild depression symptoms, and 1% (n = 3) with moderate-to-severe depression symptoms. Young adults 20–24 years old had more mild to severe depressive symptoms than the younger age groups (p < 0.001). Offering remote peer-support or mental health care, continuing to offer differentiated care services, and considering financial support will support the health and well-being of ALHIV.