Mental Health Aspects of HIV/AIDS - Indian Perspective
- Author:
Kasi Sekar
;
Sudeep Jacob Joseph
;
Arthur Joseph
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
mental health;
HIV/AIDS;
Indian perspectives
- From:Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine
2012;12(Supplement 1):8-8
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
India is a country with low HIV prevalence, yet, has the third largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. An estimated 2.39 million people live with HIV/AIDS with an adult prevalence of 0.31%. The estimates highlight an overall reduction in adult HIV prevalence, incidence and AIDS related mortality in India (NACO, 2011).
Psycho-social factors that impinge upon HIV progression include emotional well-being, stressors, coping skills and psycho-social support. The multi-centric study by NIMHANS supported by NIH highlights the effects of HIV stigma leading to mental health consequences like loss of self-esteem and self-worth. It is imperative to address stigma to improve the quality of life of PLHIVs (Ramakrishna et al., 2010).
The frequency of AIDS Dementia Complex has declined to less than 20% and is seen in 1-2% of persons on HAART in India (Satishchandra et al., 2000). The mental health conditions seen at the NIMHANS HIV Clinic include depression being the commonest and its lifetime prevalence going upto 60%. Anxiety disorders are also common conditions among PLHIVs with around one-third having feature of it. Delirium has a prevalence of 40-60%. Psychosis is less common, but occurs in 4-10 % of PLHIV. Sleep disorders and Suicidality are commonly reported in the above diagnoses (Prabhachandra, 2011).
Sexuality minorities being special groups have special mental health needs and are subject to immense marginalization. LGBT people are at higher risk for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders (Ranade, 2003). The use of any mind altering substance causes serious problems to a person‟s physical and mental health as well as to the family (Prathimamurthy, 2011).
Given this close intertwining of multiple factors in PLHIVs, a psycho-social model of care was developed by NIMHANS to address the mental health needs of PLHIVs through a cascading capacity building through training of trainers to train professional and lay counsellors. The capacity building kit has been standardised through the process of training Master Trainers for the countr
