Alleviating psychological distress and promoting mental wellbeing among adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, during and after COVID-19.

Journal: Global public health

Volume: 16

Issue: 6

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Abstract summary 

COVID-19 social control measures (e.g. physical distancing and lockdowns) can have both immediate (social isolation, loneliness, anxiety, stress) and long-term effects (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder) on individuals' mental health. This may be particularly true of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and their caregivers - populations already overburdened by intersecting stressors (e.g. psychosocial, biomedical, familial, economic, social, or environmental). Addressing the adverse mental health sequelae of COVID-19 among ALHIV requires a multi-dimensional approach that at once (a) economically empowers ALHIV and their households and (b) trains, mentors, and supervises community members as lay mental health services providers. Mental health literacy programming can also be implemented to increase mental health knowledge, reduce stigma, and improve service use among ALHIV. Schools and HIV care clinics offer ideal environments for increasing mental health literacy and improving access to mental health services.

Authors & Co-authors:  Okumu Moses M Nyoni Thabani T Byansi William W

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Aborode A, Anifowoshe O, Ayodele TI, Iretiayo AR, & David OO (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on education in sub-Saharan Africa. Preprints.org. Advance online publication. 10.20944/preprints202007.0027.v1.
Authors :  3
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1080/17441692.2021.1912137
SSN : 1744-1706
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
Adolescents;COVID-19;HIV;mental health;sub-Saharan Africa
Study Design
Case Control Trial,Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
England