Mental Health in HIV Positive Adolescents

Question 1

What proportion of the world’s new and existing HIV infections does South Africa have, and what percentage of these infections are among adolescent girls?

Answer 1

South Africa has 20% of the world’s new and existing HIV infections, with one-third of these infections occurring among adolescent girls.

Question 2

How does the World Health Organization (WHO) define adolescents and youths?

Answer 2

Adolescents are defined as individuals aged 10-19 years old, while youths are defined as individuals aged 15-24 years old. Adolescents are often further divided into early (10-14), middle (15-17), and late adolescence (18-24).

Question 3

What is a notable trend regarding male engagement with the healthcare system in the context of HIV?

Answer 3

Males are less likely to engage with the healthcare system, which can impact HIV prevention, testing, and treatment efforts.

Question 4

How do mental health disorders manifest along a spectrum?

Answer 4

Mental health disorders occur on a spectrum ranging from stress and diminished coping to common mental health problems and severe mental illnesses.

Question 5

 Definition and characteristics of mental disorder: (5)

Answer 5

Question 6

 Most common are anxiety, mood, trauma and stress related disorders; Prevalence estimated at ___ in Western
Cape

 Currently no locally validated screening tools for _________ mental health

Answer 6

17%
Adolescent

Question 7

 Bidirectional relationship between mental health and HIV: (4)

Answer 7

Question 8

What factors contribute to the higher prevalence of HIV among adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa?

Answer 8

The higher prevalence of HIV among adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa is attributed to social triggers such as gender-based violence (GBV), biological susceptibility, and socio-economic factors. These factors make girls less likely to adhere to treatment and more likely to have mental health issues.

Question 9

What did the DREAMS initiative study regarding the association between Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) and HIV in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)?

Answer 9

The DREAMS initiative, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, studied the association between CMDs and HIV in KZN. It found a probable CMD prevalence of 22%, which was higher among older girls.

Question 10

What are some examples of externally and internally focused mental health problems?

Answer 10

Externally focused mental health problems include aggression, conduct disorder, delinquent behavior, hyperactivity, and attention deficit disorder (ADD). Internally focused mental health problems include withdrawal, anxiety, and depression.

Question 11

How do gender differences manifest in mental health problems?

Answer 11

Gender differences are apparent in both internalizing (e.g., anxiety, depression) and externalizing (e.g., aggression, conduct disorder) mental health problems.

Question 12

Why is it important for parents to discuss sexual and reproductive health (SRH) with their children early on?

Answer 12

It is important for parents to discuss SRH with their children early on because waiting until they are sexually active may be too late. Early pregnancy is linked to depressive symptoms and a higher incidence of HIV.

Question 13

What are some key global initiatives addressing mental health in adolescents?

Answer 13

Key initiatives to address mental health globally include the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), Helping Adolescents Thrive (HAT), and the Lancet Commission on adolescent health and wellbeing.

Question 14

What is the relationship between Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in younger populations?

Answer 14

CMDs frequently co-occur with NCDs, and they share many risk factors, affecting younger populations.