Perceptions of HIV-related trauma in people living with HIV in Zimbabwe's Friendship Bench Program: A qualitative analysis of counselors' and clients' experiences. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verhey, Ruth; Chibanda, Dixon; Vera, Aquila; Manda, Ethel; Brakarsh, Jonathan; Seedat, Soraya
• Is Part Of: Transcultural psychiatry. Volume 57:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 161
• Page End: 172
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: HIV/AIDS -- lay health workers -- people living with HIV -- PTSD -- qualitative methods; Psychiatry, Transcultural -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Ethnopsychology -- Periodicals; Cross-Cultural Comparison -- Periodicals; Ethnopsychology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1177/1363461519850337
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1363-4615

Abstract

This study investigated the experience of lay health workers (LHWs) delivering problem-solving therapy (PST) for common mental disorders (CMD) as well as clients' views of the PST program referred to as the Friendship Bench (FB). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with LHWs (n = 5) and clients living with HIV (PLWH) (n = 10). Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. LHWs described a severe form of CMD amongst PLWH with a history of trauma, naming it kufungisisa kwe njodzi (excessive thinking due to trauma), a local cultural equivalent of PTSD. The term kufungisisa (thinking too much) has been used as the local equivalent for CMD. Trauma or njodzi was seen both as a circumscribed event and as linked to ongoing pervasive experiences such as living with HIV, stigma, and poverty. Although LHWs recognized symptoms of PTSD such as intrusion, avoidance, and hyper-arousal, they did not know how to address these specifically and chose to address them as a severe form of kufungisisa . There is a need to integrate aspects of PTSD management within care packages for CMD delivered by LHWs.