'I was thinking too much': experiences of HIV‐positive adults with common mental disorders and poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe. Issue 7 (23rd March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kidia, Khameer; Machando, Debra; Bere, Tarisai; Macpherson, Kirsty; Nyamayaro, Primrose; Potter, Lucy; Makadzange, Tariro; Munjoma, Ronald; Marufu, Marshall; Araya, Ricardo; Safren, Steven; O'Cleirigh, Conall; Chibanda, Dixon; Abas, Melanie
• Is Part Of: Tropical medicine & international health. Volume 20:Issue 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 903
• Page End: 913
• Publication Date: 2015-03-23
• Subjects: Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 616.988
• DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12502
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-2276

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="tmi12502-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="tmi12502-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To document the lived experiences of people with both poor mental health and suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy in high HIV prevalence settings.</p> </sec> <sec id="tmi12502-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>In‐depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 47 (female = 31) HIV‐positive adults who scored above the cut‐point on a locally validated scale for common mental disorders (CMDs). Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants with evidence of poor adherence. Six additional key informant interviews (female = 6) were conducted with healthcare workers. Data were collected and analysed inductively by an interdisciplinary coding team.</p> </sec> <sec id="tmi12502-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The major challenges faced by participants were stressors (poverty, stigma, marital problems) and symptoms of CMDs ('thinking too much', changes to appetite and sleep, 'burdened heart' and low energy levels). Thinking too much, which appears closely related to rumination, was the symptom with the greatest negative impact on adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV‐positive adults with CMDs. In turn, thinking too much was commonly triggered by the stressors faced by people living with HIV/AIDS, especially poverty. Finally, participants desired private counselling, access to income‐generating activities and family engagement in mental health care.</p> </sec> <sec id="tmi12502-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Better understanding of the local expression of mental disorders and of underlying stressors can inform the development of culturally sensitive interventions to reduce CMDs and poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy.</p> </sec> </abstract>