Conference abstract
Mental health troubles among Cameroonian adolescents perinatally infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2024:23(16).26
Nov 2024.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2024.23.16.2784
Archived on: 26 Nov 2024
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Mental health, assessment, adolescents perinatally infected with HIV, Cameroon
Oral presentation
Mental health troubles among Cameroonian adolescents perinatally infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Jean Pierre Yves Awono Noah1,&, Ateba Ndongo F2, Kana R2, Tchassep Nono M3, Ndzie P4, Tejiokem MC5, Hopp Biheng E6, Ndié2, Avang Nkoa Palisson T2, Ketchaji A7, Bouba Pamen J7, Ida Penda C8, Zoung-Kanyi Bissek AC2, Koki Ndombo PO6, Mbassi Hawa H6, Lallemant M9, Faye A10
1Media convergence Consulting Office, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2Division of Operational Research in Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 3Action for Youths and Family, Douala, Cameroon, 4KidAIDS Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 5Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroun, 6Centre Mère-enfant, Fondation Chantal Biya, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 7Département de la Lutte contre les Maladies, les Epidémies et les Pandémies, Ministère de la Santé Publique, Yaoundé, Cameroun, 8University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon, 9Programs for HIV Prevention and Treatment (PHPT) Foundation Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), Paris, France, 10Hôpital Universitaire Robert Debre, Paris, France
&Corresponding author
Introduction: adolescents living with HIV are more likely to experience mental health challenges compared to their peers who do not have HIV. However, there is a lack of data regarding the mental health of adolescents living with HIV in Cameroon.This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and the factors associated with depression in adolescents infected with HIV and follow-up in a Cameroonian referral hospital.
Methods: this was a cross-sectional study that enrolled adolescents perinatally infected with HIV, aged 10-19 years, on antiretroviral treatment and cared for at Centre Mere et Enfant de la Fondation Chantal Biya, Yaounde, Cameroon. Structured questionnaires, including validated French versions of the Coopersmith Child Depression Inventory (CDI), the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC), and the Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory (SEI), were administered to the study participants by the healthcare providers.
Results: all in all, 302 adolescents were recruited in the study at a median age of 15.2 years (interquartile range: 12.0 - 17.5), including 159 (52.7%) girls. Both parents had died for 57 (18.9%) adolescents; only the father was alive for 64 (21.2%); only the mother was alive for 48 (15.9%), both parents were alive for 133 (44.0%). Mental health trouble was severe depression (26.5%), suicidal ideation (36.4%), high/very high anxiety (29.1%), and low self-esteem (20.5%). There was a trend towards decreased risk of severe depression among adolescents whose mother was alive [OR= 0.4 (0.1? 1.0), p = 0.084].
Conclusion: this study found that mental health troubles were elevated among Cameroonian adolescents perinatally infected with HIV. Services and systems should go beyond the clinical management of HIV and address the psychosocial and mental health of adolescents.
Mental health troubles among Cameroonian adolescents perinatally infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Jean Pierre Yves Awono Noah1,&, Ateba Ndongo F2, Kana R2, Tchassep Nono M3, Ndzie P4, Tejiokem MC5, Hopp Biheng E6, Ndié2, Avang Nkoa Palisson T2, Ketchaji A7, Bouba Pamen J7, Ida Penda C8, Zoung-Kanyi Bissek AC2, Koki Ndombo PO6, Mbassi Hawa H6, Lallemant M9, Faye A10
1Media convergence Consulting Office, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2Division of Operational Research in Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 3Action for Youths and Family, Douala, Cameroon, 4KidAIDS Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 5Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroun, 6Centre Mère-enfant, Fondation Chantal Biya, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 7Département de la Lutte contre les Maladies, les Epidémies et les Pandémies, Ministère de la Santé Publique, Yaoundé, Cameroun, 8University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon, 9Programs for HIV Prevention and Treatment (PHPT) Foundation Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), Paris, France, 10Hôpital Universitaire Robert Debre, Paris, France
&Corresponding author
Introduction: adolescents living with HIV are more likely to experience mental health challenges compared to their peers who do not have HIV. However, there is a lack of data regarding the mental health of adolescents living with HIV in Cameroon.This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and the factors associated with depression in adolescents infected with HIV and follow-up in a Cameroonian referral hospital.
Methods: this was a cross-sectional study that enrolled adolescents perinatally infected with HIV, aged 10-19 years, on antiretroviral treatment and cared for at Centre Mere et Enfant de la Fondation Chantal Biya, Yaounde, Cameroon. Structured questionnaires, including validated French versions of the Coopersmith Child Depression Inventory (CDI), the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC), and the Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory (SEI), were administered to the study participants by the healthcare providers.
Results: all in all, 302 adolescents were recruited in the study at a median age of 15.2 years (interquartile range: 12.0 - 17.5), including 159 (52.7%) girls. Both parents had died for 57 (18.9%) adolescents; only the father was alive for 64 (21.2%); only the mother was alive for 48 (15.9%), both parents were alive for 133 (44.0%). Mental health trouble was severe depression (26.5%), suicidal ideation (36.4%), high/very high anxiety (29.1%), and low self-esteem (20.5%). There was a trend towards decreased risk of severe depression among adolescents whose mother was alive [OR= 0.4 (0.1? 1.0), p = 0.084].
Conclusion: this study found that mental health troubles were elevated among Cameroonian adolescents perinatally infected with HIV. Services and systems should go beyond the clinical management of HIV and address the psychosocial and mental health of adolescents.
