Amsterdam 2015
Menu
AIDSImpact.com
Conference Details
Authors
International Committee
Plenary Speakers
Presenting Speakers
Programme
Sessions
Scientific Committee
Acknowledgements
| Abstract #2295 - Family matters: Relationships and HIV | ||||
|
Session: 28.3: Family matters: Relationships and HIV (Parallel) on Thursday @ 11.30-13.00 in C002 Chaired by Eline Op de Coul, Francine Cournos Authors: Presenting Author: Professor Mark Tomlinson - Stellenbosch University, South Africa |
||||
| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: In South Africa and Malawi HIV prevalence is high. Those affected are often parents and it is important to understand the effects of parental HIV on child wellbeing outcomes. | ||||
| Method / Issue: 989 primary caregivers and their children were enrolled in a study of 28 CBOs with 86% follow up at 12 months. Ethical approval, training and referral protocols preceded standardised interviews including diagnostic mental health measures for both the caregiver and the child, and validated sociodemographic questions at baseline and 12-15 months follow up. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Sample included 716 carers. Three groups were compared. Group 1 consisted of 146 (20.4%) caregivers who were HIV+ve. Group 2 consisted of 93 (13%) caregivers who were HIV negative but lived in a household (HH) with an HIV+ve individual (HH-HIV). Group 3, the comparison group comprised 476 HIV negative caregivers with no HH-HIV. HIV+ve carers and HH-HIV had significantly higher mental health comorbidity (SSQ) and suicidal ideation than unaffected caregivers at both baseline and follow-up. The rates were similar between HIV+ve carers and HH-HIV indicating emotional strain of living in HIV affected households. All groups showed a statistically significant reduction of symptoms over time (HIV unaffected: p<.0001 HIV+ve: p<.0001 HIV-HH: p<.0001). For comorbidity of HIV and Mental Health, we generated four groups: 1) HIV+ve no Mental Health problems above the cut off (n=97, 13.5%), 2) HIV-ve with MH above the cut off (n=148, 20.7%), 3) HIV+ve with MH above the cut off (n=48, 6.7%), and 4) HIV-ve and no MH (n=423, 59.1%). There were significant differences between the groups (p=.003) for child depression at baseline. Child depression was significantly reduced for those with no parental MH and HIV only yet for those with comorbidity, child depression increased. Comorbidity was a significant predictor of unemployment (OR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.20-4.16, p=0.01) and HIV or MH were predictors of experiencing domestic violence (OR: 3.54,9 CI: 1.68-7.45, p=0.01). | ||||
| Discussion: HIV affects families and their caregiving capacity. HIV infection alone does not affect child depression, but when caregivers have HIV and Mental health comorbidity, children are affected. There was a reduction in caregiver and child mental health problems over time, and an increase in child self-esteem scores at follow up. CBOs are a good vehicle to provide mental health support for families affected by HIV/AIDS and would benefit from training and other capacity development initiatives in order to further meet the mental health needs of their beneficiaries. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||