Mental Health
Does perceived caregiver HIV stigma and depression increase adolescent neuro-behavioral difficulties? A mediation analysis in the asenze cohort Amaleah Mirti* Amaleah Mirti Leslie Davidson Jeremy Kane Gabriella Norwitz Rachel Gruver Kathryn Watt Chris Desmond Adele Munsami Nonhlanhla Myeza
Introduction:
People living with HIV (PLWH) often experience HIV related stigma that is, in turn, associated with several negative health outcomes including depression, harmful drinking, and intimate partner violence. Despite knowledge of these proximal impacts of HIV stigma on PLWH, less is known about the impact that HIV stigma has on the health and behavior of adolescents in the care of PLWH.
Methods:
Utilizing data from adolescents and their primary caregivers from the population-based Asenze cohort study in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, we conducted a path analysis to determine if caregiver depression [operationalized as mental health functioning] is a mediator of the hypothesized association between caregiver HIV stigma and adolescent neurodevelopmental behavior including internalizing and externalizing behaviors.
Results:
Results suggest good model fit and a statistically significant relationship between caregiver HIV stigma and caregiver mental health functioning. However, neither the direct nor indirect (including potential mediator caregiver mental health functioning) effect of HIV stigma on adolescent behavioral difficulties was statistically significant.
Conclusion:
This paper bolsters findings from other studies in KZN, as well as South Africa at large, on the relationship between HIV stigma and mental health for PLWH. Moreover, it highlights the importance of understanding HIV from a psychosocial perspective and reaffirms the need for mental health resources in populations with large numbers of people living with HIV.