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Thi LM, Manzano A, Ha BTT, Vui LT, Quynh-Chi NT, Duong DTT, Lakin K, Kane S, Mirzoev T, Trang DTH. Mental health stigma and health-seeking behaviors amongst pregnant women in Vietnam: a mixed-method realist study. Int J Equity Health 2024; 23:163. [PMID: 39152438 PMCID: PMC11328496 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-024-02250-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 15% of women in low-and middle-income countries experience common perinatal mental disorders. Yet, many women, even if diagnosed with mental health conditions, are untreated due to poor quality care, limited accessibility, limited knowledge, and stigma. This paper describes how mental health-related stigma influences pregnant women's decisions not to disclose their conditions and to seek treatment in Vietnam, all of which exacerbate inequitable access to maternal mental healthcare. METHODS A mixed-method realist study was conducted, comprising 22 in-depth interviews, four focus group discussions (total participants n = 44), and a self-administered questionnaire completed by 639 pregnant women. A parallel convergent model for mixed methods analysis was employed. Data were analyzed using the realist logic of analysis, an iterative process aimed at refining identified theories. Survey data underwent analysis using SPSS 22 and descriptive analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed using configurations of context, mechanisms, and outcomes to elucidate causal links and provide explanations for complexity. RESULTS Nearly half of pregnant women (43.5%) would try to hide their mental health issues and 38.3% avoid having help from a mental health professional, highlighting the substantial extent of stigma affecting health-seeking and accessing care. Four key areas highlight the role of stigma in maternal mental health: fear and stigmatizing language contribute to the concealment of mental illness, rendering it unnoticed; unconsciousness, normalization, and low literacy of maternal mental health; shame, household structure and gender roles during pregnancy; and the interplay of regulations, referral pathways, and access to mental health support services further compounds the challenges. CONCLUSION Addressing mental health-related stigma could influence the decision of disclosure and health-seeking behaviors, which could in turn improve responsiveness of the local health system to the needs of pregnant women with mental health needs, by offering prompt attention, a wide range of choices, and improved communication. Potential interventions to decrease stigma and improve access to mental healthcare for pregnant women in Vietnam should target structural and organizational levels and may include improvements in screening and referrals for perinatal mental care screening, thus preventing complications.
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Grants
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- MR/T023481/2 Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
- Joint Health Systems Research Initiative comprising Medical Research Council (MRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Wellcome Trust
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Minh Thi
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam.
| | - Ana Manzano
- School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS29JT, UK
| | - Bui Thi Thu Ha
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - Le Thi Vui
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | | | | | - Kimberly Lakin
- Nossal Institute for Global Health Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Sumit Kane
- Nossal Institute for Global Health Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Tolib Mirzoev
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E7HT, UK
| | - Do Thi Hanh Trang
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
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Trang DTH, Ha BTT, Vui LT, Chi NTQ, Thi LM, Duong DTT, Hung DT, Cronin de Chavez A, Manzano A, Lakin K, Kane S, Mirzoev T. Understanding the barriers to integrating maternal and mental health at primary health care in Vietnam. Health Policy Plan 2024; 39:541-551. [PMID: 38597872 PMCID: PMC11145914 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czae027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of common perinatal mental disorders in Vietnam ranges from 16.9% to 39.9%, and substantial treatment gaps have been identified at all levels. This paper explores constraints to the integration of maternal and mental health services at the primary healthcare level and the implications for the health system's responsiveness to the needs and expectations of pregnant women with mental health conditions in Vietnam. As part of the RESPONSE project, a three-phase realist evaluation study, we present Phase 1 findings, which employed systematic and scoping literature reviews and qualitative data collection (focus groups and interviews) with key health system actors in Bac Giang province, Vietnam, to understand the barriers to maternal mental healthcare provision, utilization and integration strategies. A four-level framing of the barriers to integrating perinatal mental health services in Vietnam was used in reporting findings, which comprised individual, sociocultural, organizational and structural levels. At the sociocultural and structural levels, these barriers included cultural beliefs about the holistic notion of physical and mental health, stigma towards mental health, biomedical approach to healthcare services, absence of comprehensive mental health policy and a lack of mental health workforce. At the organizational level, there was an absence of clinical guidelines on the integration of mental health in routine antenatal visits, a shortage of staff and poor health facilities. Finally, at the provider level, a lack of knowledge and training on mental health was identified. The integration of mental health into routine antenatal visits at the primary care level has the potential help to reduce stigma towards mental health and improve health system responsiveness by providing services closer to the local level, offering prompt attention, better choice of services and better communication while ensuring privacy and confidentiality of services. This can improve the demand for mental health services and help reduce the delay of care-seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do Thi Hanh Trang
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Ha Noi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Bui Thi Thu Ha
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Ha Noi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Le Thi Vui
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Ha Noi 10000, Vietnam
| | | | - Le Minh Thi
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Ha Noi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Doan Thi Thuy Duong
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Ha Noi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Dang The Hung
- Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Ha Noi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Anna Cronin de Chavez
- Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Manzano
- School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Kimberly Lakin
- Nossal Institute for Global Health Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Sumit Kane
- Nossal Institute for Global Health Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Tolib Mirzoev
- Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
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Murphy JK, Chau LW, Nguyen VC, Minas H, Anh DV, O'Neil J. An integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach to advancing community-based depression care in Vietnam: lessons from an ongoing research-policy collaboration. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:142. [PMID: 38279141 PMCID: PMC10821570 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10518-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence-based mental health policies are key to supporting the expansion of community-based mental health care and are increasingly being developed in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite this, research on the process of mental health policy development in LMICs is limited. Engagement between researchers and policy makers via an integrated Knowledge Translation (iKT) approach can help to facilitate the process of evidence-based policy making. This paper provides a descriptive case study of a decade-long policy and research collaboration between partners in Vietnam, Canada and Australia to advance mental health policy for community-based depression care in Vietnam. METHODS This descriptive case study draws on qualitative data including team meeting minutes, a focus group discussion with research team leaders, and key informant interviews with two Vietnamese policy makers. Our analysis draws on Murphy et al.'s (2021) findings and recommendations related to stakeholder engagement in global mental health research. RESULTS Consistent with Murphy et al.'s findings, facilitating factors across three thematic categories were identified. Related to 'the importance of understanding context', engagement between researchers and policy partners from the formative research stage provided a foundation for engagement that aligned with local priorities. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst to further advance the prioritization of mental heath by the Government of Vietnam. 'The nature of engagement' is also important, with findings demonstrating that long-term policy engagement was facilitated by continuous funding mechanisms that have enabled trust-building and allowed the research team to respond to local priorities over time. 'Communication and dissemination' are also crucial, with the research team supporting mental health awareness-raising among policy makers and the community, including via capacity building initiatives. CONCLUSIONS This case study identifies factors influencing policy engagement for mental health system strengthening in an LMIC setting. Sustained engagement with policy leaders helps to ensure alignment with local priorities, thus facilitating uptake and scale-up. Funding agencies can play a crucial role in supporting mental health system development through longer term funding mechanisms. Increased research related to the policy engagement process in global mental health will further support policy development and improvement in mental health care in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill K Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Leena W Chau
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Vu Cong Nguyen
- Institute of Population, Health and Development, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Harry Minas
- Global and Cultural Mental Health Unit, Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Duong Viet Anh
- Institute of Population, Health and Development, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - John O'Neil
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.
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Yang LH, Bass JK, Le PD, Singh R, Gurung D, Velasco PR, Grivel MM, Susser E, Cleland CM, Muñoz RA, Kohrt BA, Bhana A. A Case Study of the Development of a Valid and Pragmatic Implementation Science Measure: The Barriers and Facilitators in Implementation of Task-Sharing Mental Health Interventions (BeFITS-MH) Measure. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3877031. [PMID: 38343864 PMCID: PMC10854285 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3877031/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Background Few implementation science (IS) measures have been evaluated for validity, reliability and utility - the latter referring to whether a measure captures meaningful aspects of implementation contexts. In this case study, we describe the process of developing an IS measure that aims to assess Barriers and Facilitators in Implementation of Task-Sharing in Mental Health services (BeFITS-MH), and the procedures we implemented to enhance its utility. Methods We summarize conceptual and empirical work that informed the development of the BeFITS-MH measure, including a description of the Delphi process, detailed translation and local adaptation procedures, and concurrent pilot testing. As validity and reliability are key aspects of measure development, we also report on our process of assessing the measure's construct validity and utility for the implementation outcomes of acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Results Continuous stakeholder involvement and concurrent pilot testing resulted in several adaptations of the BeFITS-MH measure's structure, scaling, and format to enhance contextual relevance and utility. Adaptations of broad terms such as "program," "provider type," and "type of service" were necessary due to the heterogeneous nature of interventions, type of task-sharing providers employed, and clients served across the three global sites. Item selection benefited from the iterative process, enabling identification of relevance of key aspects of identified barriers and facilitators, and what aspects were common across sites. Program implementers' conceptions of utility regarding the measure's acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility were seen to cluster across several common categories. Conclusions This case study provides a rigorous, multi-step process for developing a pragmatic IS measure. The process and lessons learned will aid in the teaching, practice and research of IS measurement development. The importance of including experiences and knowledge from different types of stakeholders in different global settings was reinforced and resulted in a more globally useful measure while allowing for locally-relevant adaptation. To increase the relevance of the measure it is important to target actionable domains that predict markers of utility (e.g., successful uptake) per program implementers' preferences. With this case study, we provide a detailed roadmap for others seeking to develop and validate IS measures that maximize local utility and impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence H Yang
- New York University School of Global Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Judy K Bass
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health
| | - PhuongThao Dinh Le
- New York University School of Global Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Ritika Singh
- George Washington University, Division of Global Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Dristy Gurung
- Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Nepal; King's College London, Denmark Hill Campus
| | - Paola R Velasco
- Universidad O'Higgins; Universidad Católica de Chile; Universidad de Chile
| | - Margaux M Grivel
- 1 New York University School of Global Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Ezra Susser
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; New York State Psychiatric Institute
| | - Charles M Cleland
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Population Health
| | | | - Brandon A Kohrt
- George Washington University, Division of Global Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Arvin Bhana
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Centre for Rural Health; South African Medical Research Council, Health Systems Research Unit
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5
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Moloi H, Daniels K, Brooke-Sumner C, Cooper S, Odendaal WA, Thorne M, Akama E, Leon N. Healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences of primary healthcare integration: a scoping review of qualitative evidence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 7:CD013603. [PMID: 37466272 PMCID: PMC10355136 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013603.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary healthcare (PHC) integration has been promoted globally as a tool for health sector reform and universal health coverage (UHC), especially in low-resource settings. However, for a range of reasons, implementation and impact remain variable. PHC integration, at its simplest, can be considered a way of delivering PHC services together that sometimes have been delivered as a series of separate or 'vertical' health programmes. Healthcare workers are known to shape the success of implementing reform interventions. Understanding healthcare worker perceptions and experiences of PHC integration can therefore provide insights into the role healthcare workers play in shaping implementation efforts and the impact of PHC integration. However, the heterogeneity of the evidence base complicates our understanding of their role in shaping the implementation, delivery, and impact of PHC integration, and the role of contextual factors influencing their responses. OBJECTIVES To map the qualitative literature on healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences of PHC integration to characterise the evidence base, with a view to better inform future syntheses on the topic. SEARCH METHODS We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was 28 July 2020. We did not search for grey literature due to the many published records identified. SELECTION CRITERIA We included studies with qualitative and mixed methods designs that reported on healthcare worker perceptions and experiences of PHC integration from any country. We excluded settings other than PHC and community-based health care, participants other than healthcare workers, and interventions broader than healthcare services. We used translation support from colleagues and Google Translate software to screen non-English records. Where translation was not feasible we categorised these records as studies awaiting classification. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS For data extraction, we used a customised data extraction form containing items developed using inductive and deductive approaches. We performed independent extraction in duplicate for a sample on 10% of studies allowed for sufficient agreement to be reached between review authors. We analysed extracted data quantitatively by counting the number of studies per indicator and converting these into proportions with additional qualitative descriptive information. Indicators included descriptions of study methods, country setting, intervention type, scope and strategies, implementing healthcare workers, and client target population. MAIN RESULTS The review included 184 studies for analysis based on 191 included papers. Most studies were published in the last 12 years, with a sharp increase in the last five years. Studies mostly employed methods with cross-sectional qualitative design (mainly interviews and focus group discussions), and few used longitudinal or ethnographic (or both) designs. Studies covered 37 countries, with close to an even split in the proportions of high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There were gaps in the geographical spread for both HICs and LMICs and some countries were more dominant, such as the USA for HICs, South Africa for middle-income countries, and Uganda for low-income countries. Methods were mainly cross-sectional observational studies with few longitudinal studies. A minority of studies used an analytical conceptual model to guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of the integration study. The main finding was the various levels of diversity found in the evidence base on PHC integration studies that examined healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences. The review identified six different configurations of health service streams that were being integrated and these were categorised as: mental and behavioural health; HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and sexual reproductive health; maternal, women, and child health; non-communicable diseases; and two broader categories, namely general PHC services, and allied and specialised services. Within the health streams, the review mapped the scope of the interventions as full or partial integration. The review mapped the use of three different integration strategies and categorised these as horizontal integration, service expansion, and service linkage strategies. The wide range of healthcare workers who participated in the implementation of integration interventions was mapped and these included policymakers, senior managers, middle and frontline managers, clinicians, allied healthcare professionals, lay healthcare workers, and health system support staff. We mapped the range of client target populations. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS This scoping review provides a systematic, descriptive overview of the heterogeneity in qualitative literature on healthcare workers' perceptions and experience of PHC integration, pointing to diversity with regard to country settings; study types; client populations; healthcare worker populations; and intervention focus, scope, and strategies. It would be important for researchers and decision-makers to understand how the diversity in PHC integration intervention design, implementation, and context may influence how healthcare workers shape PHC integration impact. The classification of studies on the various dimensions (e.g. integration focus, scope, strategy, and type of healthcare workers and client populations) can help researchers to navigate the way the literature varies and for specifying potential questions for future qualitative evidence syntheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hlengiwe Moloi
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Carrie Brooke-Sumner
- Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, The South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sara Cooper
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Social & Behavioural Sciences Division, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Willem A Odendaal
- HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Eliud Akama
- Center for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Natalie Leon
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Moloi H, Daniels K, Brooke-Sumner C, Cooper S, Odendaal WA, Thorne M, Akama E, Leon N. Healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences of primary healthcare integration: a scoping review of qualitative evidence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 7:CD013603. [PMID: 37434293 PMCID: PMC10335778 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013603.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary healthcare (PHC) integration has been promoted globally as a tool for health sector reform and universal health coverage (UHC), especially in low-resource settings. However, for a range of reasons, implementation and impact remain variable. PHC integration, at its simplest, can be considered a way of delivering PHC services together that sometimes have been delivered as a series of separate or 'vertical' health programmes. Healthcare workers are known to shape the success of implementing reform interventions. Understanding healthcare worker perceptions and experiences of PHC integration can therefore provide insights into the role healthcare workers play in shaping implementation efforts and the impact of PHC integration. However, the heterogeneity of the evidence base complicates our understanding of their role in shaping the implementation, delivery, and impact of PHC integration, and the role of contextual factors influencing their responses. OBJECTIVES To map the qualitative literature on healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences of PHC integration to characterise the evidence base, with a view to better inform future syntheses on the topic. SEARCH METHODS We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was 28 July 2020. We did not search for grey literature due to the many published records identified. SELECTION CRITERIA We included studies with qualitative and mixed methods designs that reported on healthcare worker perceptions and experiences of PHC integration from any country. We excluded settings other than PHC and community-based health care, participants other than healthcare workers, and interventions broader than healthcare services. We used translation support from colleagues and Google Translate software to screen non-English records. Where translation was not feasible we categorised these records as studies awaiting classification. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS For data extraction, we used a customised data extraction form containing items developed using inductive and deductive approaches. We performed independent extraction in duplicate for a sample on 10% of studies allowed for sufficient agreement to be reached between review authors. We analysed extracted data quantitatively by counting the number of studies per indicator and converting these into proportions with additional qualitative descriptive information. Indicators included descriptions of study methods, country setting, intervention type, scope and strategies, implementing healthcare workers, and client target population. MAIN RESULTS The review included 184 studies for analysis based on 191 included papers. Most studies were published in the last 12 years, with a sharp increase in the last five years. Studies mostly employed methods with cross-sectional qualitative design (mainly interviews and focus group discussions), and few used longitudinal or ethnographic (or both) designs. Studies covered 37 countries, with close to an even split in the proportions of high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There were gaps in the geographical spread for both HICs and LMICs and some countries were more dominant, such as the USA for HICs, South Africa for middle-income countries, and Uganda for low-income countries. Methods were mainly cross-sectional observational studies with few longitudinal studies. A minority of studies used an analytical conceptual model to guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of the integration study. The main finding was the various levels of diversity found in the evidence base on PHC integration studies that examined healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences. The review identified six different configurations of health service streams that were being integrated and these were categorised as: mental and behavioural health; HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and sexual reproductive health; maternal, women, and child health; non-communicable diseases; and two broader categories, namely general PHC services, and allied and specialised services. Within the health streams, the review mapped the scope of the interventions as full or partial integration. The review mapped the use of three different integration strategies and categorised these as horizontal integration, service expansion, and service linkage strategies. The wide range of healthcare workers who participated in the implementation of integration interventions was mapped and these included policymakers, senior managers, middle and frontline managers, clinicians, allied healthcare professionals, lay healthcare workers, and health system support staff. We mapped the range of client target populations. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS This scoping review provides a systematic, descriptive overview of the heterogeneity in qualitative literature on healthcare workers' perceptions and experience of PHC integration, pointing to diversity with regard to country settings; study types; client populations; healthcare worker populations; and intervention focus, scope, and strategies. It would be important for researchers and decision-makers to understand how the diversity in PHC integration intervention design, implementation, and context may influence how healthcare workers shape PHC integration impact. The classification of studies on the various dimensions (e.g. integration focus, scope, strategy, and type of healthcare workers and client populations) can help researchers to navigate the way the literature varies and for specifying potential questions for future qualitative evidence syntheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hlengiwe Moloi
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Carrie Brooke-Sumner
- Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, The South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sara Cooper
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Social & Behavioural Sciences Division, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Willem A Odendaal
- HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Eliud Akama
- Center for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Natalie Leon
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Yen Phi HN, Quoc Tho T, Xuan Manh B, Anh Ngoc T, Minh Chau PT, Trung Nghia N, Nghia TT, Ngoc Quynh HH, Huy NT, Linh NT, Lê An P. Prevalence of depressive disorders in a primary care setting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: A cross-sectional epidemiological study. Int J Psychiatry Med 2023; 58:86-101. [PMID: 36437044 DOI: 10.1177/00912174221141757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This research was conducted to identify the prevalence and associated factors of depressive disorders, as well as evaluate the recognition rate of general practitioners in detecting these mental health issues in primary care. METHOD Five hundred and twelve participants (55.3% female, mean age = 46.35 years) were assessed by psychiatrists based on the DSM-5 clinical procedures over a two-month survey in a primary care facility in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. RESULTS There were 15.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.9-19.2) of the population having depressive disorders, with major depressive disorder being the most prevalent subtype at 8% (95% CI 5.9-10.6). General practitioners could detect depressive disorders in 2.5% of all cases (95% CI .5-7.7). Significantly linked with depressive disorders in multivariable analysis were Chinese ethnic or other minority races (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 4.10, 95% CI 1.04-16.12), and low economic status (aOR = 5.41, 95% CI 1.29-22.59). CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of depressive disorders in outpatients of primary care clinics may raise the awareness of the practitioners about screening and other appropriate actions to tackle the issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho Nguyen Yen Phi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Truong Quoc Tho
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Bui Xuan Manh
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Tran Anh Ngoc
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Pham Thi Minh Chau
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Trung Nghia
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.,Mental Health Unit, Hoan My Sai Gon Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Tran Trung Nghia
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Huynh Ho Ngoc Quynh
- Department of Health Education and Psychology in Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Tien Huy
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Ngo Tich Linh
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Pham Lê An
- The Center of Training Family Medicine, 249295University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Le PD, Eschliman EL, Grivel MM, Tang J, Cho YG, Yang X, Tay C, Li T, Bass J, Yang LH. Barriers and facilitators to implementation of evidence-based task-sharing mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review using implementation science frameworks. Implement Sci 2022; 17:4. [PMID: 35022081 PMCID: PMC8756725 DOI: 10.1186/s13012-021-01179-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Task-sharing is a promising strategy to expand mental healthcare in low-resource settings, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Research on how to best implement task-sharing mental health interventions, however, is hampered by an incomplete understanding of the barriers and facilitators to their implementation. This review aims to systematically identify implementation barriers and facilitators in evidence-based task-sharing mental health interventions using an implementation science lens, organizing factors across a novel, integrated implementation science framework. METHODS PubMed, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and Embase were used to identify English-language, peer-reviewed studies using search terms for three categories: "mental health," "task-sharing," and "LMIC." Articles were included if they: focused on mental disorders as the main outcome(s); included a task-sharing intervention using or based on an evidence-based practice; were implemented in an LMIC setting; and included assessment or data-supported analysis of barriers and facilitators. An initial conceptual model and coding framework derived from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Theoretical Domains Framework was developed and iteratively refined to create an integrated conceptual framework, the Barriers and Facilitators in Implementation of Task-Sharing Mental Health Interventions (BeFITS-MH), which specifies 37 constructs across eight domains: (I) client characteristics, (II) provider characteristics, (III) family and community factors, (IV) organizational characteristics, (V) societal factors, (VI) mental health system factors, (VII) intervention characteristics, and (VIII) stigma. RESULTS Of the 26,935 articles screened (title and abstract), 192 articles underwent full-text review, yielding 37 articles representing 28 unique intervention studies that met the inclusion criteria. The most prevalent facilitators occur in domains that are more amenable to adaptation (i.e., the intervention and provider characteristics domains), while salient barriers occur in domains that are more challenging to modulate or intervene on-these include constructs in the client characteristics as well as the broader societal and structural levels of influence (i.e., the organizational, mental health system domains). Other notable trends include constructs in the family and community domains occurring as barriers and as facilitators roughly equally, and stigma constructs acting exclusively as barriers. CONCLUSIONS Using the BeFITS-MH model we developed based on implementation science frameworks, this systematic review provides a comprehensive identification and organization of barriers and facilitators to evidence-based task-sharing mental health interventions in LMICs. These findings have important implications for ongoing and future implementation of this critically needed intervention strategy, including the promise of leveraging task-sharing intervention characteristics as sites of continued innovation, the importance of but relative lack of engagement with constructs in macro-level domains (e.g., organizational characteristics, stigma), and the need for more delineation of strategies for task-sharing mental health interventions that researchers and implementers can employ to enhance implementation in and across levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42020161357.
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Affiliation(s)
- PhuongThao D. Le
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, 708 Broadway, NY 10012 New York, USA
| | - Evan L. Eschliman
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Margaux M. Grivel
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, 708 Broadway, NY 10012 New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey Tang
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Psychology, New York University Graduate School of Arts and Science, One-Half Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003 USA
| | - Young G. Cho
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Xinyu Yang
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Charisse Tay
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Teachers College, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027 USA
| | - Tingyu Li
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Teachers College, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027 USA
| | - Judith Bass
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hampton House, 8th Floor, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Lawrence H. Yang
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, 708 Broadway, NY 10012 New York, USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032 USA
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Bartels SM, Cardenas P, Uribe-Restrepo JM, Cubillos L, Torrey WC, Castro SM, Williams MJ, Oviedo-Manrique DG, Gómez-Restrepo C, Marsch LA. Barriers and facilitators to the diagnosis and treatment of depression in primary care in Colombia: Perspectives of providers, healthcare administrators, patients and community representatives. REVISTA COLOMBIANA DE PSIQUIATRÍA (ENGLISH ED.) 2021; 50 Suppl 1:64-72. [PMID: 34281805 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcpeng.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Depression represents a major disease burden in Colombia. To better understand opportunities to improve access to mental healthcare in Colombia, a research team at Javeriana University conducted formative qualitative research to explore stakeholders' experiences with the integration of mental healthcare into the primary care system. METHODS The research team conducted 16 focus groups and 4 in-depth interviews with patients, providers, health administrators and representatives of community organisations at five primary care clinics in Colombia, and used thematic analysis to study the data. RESULTS Themes were organised into barriers and facilitators at the level of patients, providers, organisations and facilities. Barriers to the treatment of depression included stigma, lack of mental health literacy at the patient and provider level, weak links between care levels, and continued need for mental health prioritization at the national level. Facilitators to the management of depression in primary care included patient support systems, strong patient-provider relationships, the targeting of depression interventions and national depression guidelines. DISCUSSION This study elucidates the barriers to depression care in Colombia, and highlights action items for further integrating depression care into the primary care setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M Bartels
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA.
| | - Paula Cardenas
- Departamento de Epidemiología y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - José M Uribe-Restrepo
- Departamento de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Leonardo Cubillos
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA; Departamento de Psiquiatría, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - William C Torrey
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA; Departamento de Psiquiatría, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Sergio M Castro
- Departamento de Epidemiología y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Makeda J Williams
- Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Diana Goretty Oviedo-Manrique
- Departamento de Epidemiología y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Gómez-Restrepo
- Departamento de Epidemiología y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia; Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lisa A Marsch
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA
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Chau LW, Murphy J, Nguyen VC, Lou H, Khanh H, Thu T, Minas H, O'Neil J. Lay social workers implementing a task-sharing approach to managing depression in Vietnam. Int J Ment Health Syst 2021; 15:52. [PMID: 34051848 PMCID: PMC8164490 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-021-00478-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While depression is a leading contributor to burden of disease in Vietnam, there is a critical gap in depression care due to the shortage of mental health specialists and extremely limited mental health services in general health care settings. We have previously reported the effectiveness of a supported self-management (SSM) task-sharing intervention for depression, delivered by social collaborators (lay social workers). The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing the effectiveness of delivery of SSM by social collaborators and delineate areas for further attention that are relevant for scale-up. Methods A hundred and ten (110) key informant interviews were conducted with three stakeholder groups (patients, social collaborators, experts) from eight provinces in Vietnam. Participants were identified through records from a recently completed randomized trial that showed the effectiveness of SSM in community-based settings in Vietnam. Qualitative descriptive methods and thematic analysis were used to examine the interviews. A coding framework and corresponding themes were developed deductively, based on the findings from the randomized trial and the literature, and through inductive analysis, to describe the contextual factors that impacted the social collaborators’ role in successfully implementing the SSM intervention. Results Our analysis identified the following benefits of working with social collaborators: (1) increased awareness of mental health in the family and community; (2) reduced stigma; (3) a better understanding that depression is treatable; (4) increased help-seeking; and (5) improved access to care. There were also significant challenges, including social collaborator characteristics (age, education, pre-existing training and skills) and contextual factors influencing their work (roles and responsibilities, training, compensation, support from government). Conclusions Engaging social collaborators in the delivery of SSM in the community can help fill a critical gap in depression care in Vietnam. However, several contextual challenges that are an impediment to increased engagement and sustainable integration into health and social systems need to be resolved through policy change to regulate their practice, define their scope of work, and provide adequate remuneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena W Chau
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5K3, Canada
| | - Jill Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Mood Disorders Centre, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Vu Cong Nguyen
- Institute of Population, Health and Development, 14th level, ICON4 Tower, 3 Cau Giay Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Hayami Lou
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5K3, Canada
| | - Huyen Khanh
- Institute of Population, Health and Development, 14th level, ICON4 Tower, 3 Cau Giay Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Trang Thu
- Institute of Population, Health and Development, 14th level, ICON4 Tower, 3 Cau Giay Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Harry Minas
- Global and Cultural Mental Health Unit, Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - John O'Neil
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5K3, Canada.
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Murphy J, Qureshi O, Endale T, Esponda GM, Pathare S, Eaton J, De Silva M, Ryan G. Barriers and drivers to stakeholder engagement in global mental health projects. Int J Ment Health Syst 2021; 15:30. [PMID: 33812375 PMCID: PMC8019163 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-021-00458-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Engagement with diverse stakeholders, including policy makers, care providers and service users and communities, is essential for successful implementation of global mental health interventions. Despite being a fundamental factor in the implementation process, evidence about challenges and drivers to stakeholder engagement is limited in the global mental health literature. Methods We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 29 recipients of Grand Challenges Canada Global Mental Health funding to assess barriers and drivers to global mental health implementation across a portfolio of projects. We used framework analysis to identify key themes related to implementation barriers and drivers. This paper reports on barriers and drivers to stakeholder engagement, with results related to capacity development and service delivery reported elsewhere in this journal. Results Barriers and drivers to stakeholder engagement were identified across four themes: (1) Contextual Considerations, (2) Resources, (3) Participation, Uptake and Empowerment, and (4) Stigma. While complex contextual challenges create barriers, mechanisms such as formative research can facilitate a deeper contextual understanding that supports effective implementation planning. Limited financial and human resources and competing priorities can lead to substantial challenges. Investing in and leveraging existing local resources and expertise can help to mitigate these barriers. The challenge of achieving active participation from stakeholders and diverging expectations about the nature of participation were identified as barriers, while providing opportunities for meaningful participation and empowerment acted as drivers. Stigma at the institutional, community and individual level was also identified as a substantial barrier to engagement. Conclusion The findings of this study are relevant to implementers in global mental health. They also have implications for global mental health funding agencies and policy organizations, who can support improved stakeholder engagement by investing in high-quality formative research, supporting capacity building for policy engagement, investing in longer-term funding schemes to support sustainable partnerships and scale-up, thus fostering successful engagement and supporting effective implementation of global mental health innovations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2255 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada.
| | - Onaiza Qureshi
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Tarik Endale
- Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Georgina Miguel Esponda
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Soumitra Pathare
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune, 411004, India
| | - Julian Eaton
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Mary De Silva
- Wellcome Trust, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Grace Ryan
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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12
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LEVINTOW SN, PENCE BW, POWERS KA, BRESKIN A, SRIPAIPAN T, HA TV, CHU VA, QUAN VM, LATKIN CA, GO VF. Depression, antiretroviral therapy initiation, and HIV viral suppression among people who inject drugs in Vietnam. J Affect Disord 2021; 281:208-215. [PMID: 33333474 PMCID: PMC7855445 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of depression is high among people who inject drugs (PWID) and may contribute to the spread of HIV through poor treatment engagement and persistent viremia. We estimated the effects of depression on antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and viral suppression among PWID living with HIV. METHODS Longitudinal data were collected from 455 PWID living with HIV in Vietnam during 2009-2013. We estimated the 6- and 12-month cumulative incidence of ART initiation and viral suppression, accounting for time-varying confounding, competing events, and missing data. The cumulative incidence difference (CID) contrasted the incidence of each outcome had participants always vs. never experienced severe depressive symptoms across study visits to date. RESULTS Severe depressive symptoms decreased the cumulative incidence of ART initiation, with CID values comparing always vs. never having severe depressive symptoms of -7.5 percentage points (95% CI: -17.2, 2.2) at 6 months and -7.1 (95% CI: -17.9, 3.7) at 12 months. There was no appreciable difference in the cumulative incidence of viral suppression at 6 months (CID = 0.3, 95% CI: -11.3, 11.9) or 12 months (CID = 2.0, 95% CI: -21.8, 25.8). LIMITATIONS Discrepancies between the ART initiation and viral suppression outcomes could be due to under-reporting of ART use and missing data on viral load. CONCLUSIONS Future work probing the seemingly antagonistic effect of depression on treatment uptake - but not viral suppression - will inform the design of interventions promoting HIV clinical outcomes and reducing onward transmission among PWID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara N. LEVINTOW
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - Brian W. PENCE
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - Kimberly A. POWERS
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | | | - Teerada SRIPAIPAN
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - Tran Viet HA
- UNC Project Vietnam, University of North Carolina, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Viet Anh CHU
- UNC Project Vietnam, University of North Carolina, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Vu Minh QUAN
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA, USA
| | - Carl A. LATKIN
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore MD, USA
| | - Vivian F. GO
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC, USA
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Levintow SN, Pence BW, Powers KA, Sripaipan T, Ha TV, Chu VA, Quan VM, Latkin CA, Go VF. Estimating the Effect of Depression on HIV Transmission Risk Behaviors Among People Who Inject Drugs in Vietnam: A Causal Approach. AIDS Behav 2021; 25:438-446. [PMID: 32833193 PMCID: PMC7444452 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-020-03007-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The burden of depression and HIV is high among people who inject drugs (PWID), yet the effect of depression on transmission risk behaviors is not well understood in this population. Using causal inference methods, we analyzed data from 455 PWID living with HIV in Vietnam 2009-2013. Study visits every 6 months over 2 years measured depressive symptoms in the past week and injecting and sexual behaviors in the prior 3 months. Severe depressive symptoms (vs. mild/no symptoms) increased injection equipment sharing (risk difference [RD] = 3.9 percentage points, 95% CI -1.7, 9.6) but not condomless sex (RD = -1.8, 95% CI -6.4, 2.8) as reported 6 months later. The cross-sectional association with injection equipment sharing at the same visit (RD = 6.2, 95% CI 1.4, 11.0) was stronger than the longitudinal effect. Interventions on depression among PWID may decrease sharing of injection equipment and the corresponding risk of HIV transmission.Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01689545.
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