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Multi-informant perspective on psychological distress among Ghanaian orphans and vulnerable children within the context of HIV/AIDS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2016

P. N. Doku  and
H. Minnis
P. N. Doku*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Box LG 84, Legon, Accra, Ghana University of Glasgow, Institute of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK
H. Minnis
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, Institute of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: P. N. Doku, Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Box LG 84, Legon, Accra, Ghana. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

There is little knowledge about the psychosocial distress of children affected by human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Ghana, to aid the planning of services. This study investigated mental health problems among children affected by HIV/AIDS, compared with control groups of children orphaned by other causes, and non-orphans.

Method

The study employed a cross-sectional survey that interviewed 291 children and their caregivers. Both children and caregivers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire that measured children's psychosocial wellbeing. Verbal autopsy was used to identify whether children lost one or both parents from AIDS.

Results

The results indicated that controlling for relevant sociodemographic factors, both children's self-reports and caregivers’ reports indicate that both children living with HIV/AIDS-infected caregivers and children orphaned by AIDS were at heightened risk for mental health problems than both children orphaned by other causes and non-orphans. The findings further indicated that a significant proportion of orphaned and vulnerable children exhibited symptoms for depression and other psychiatric disorders (approximately 63%) compared with 7% among the non-orphaned group. Caregivers gave higher ratings for children on externalizing problems and lower on internalizing problems, and vice versa when the children's self-reports were analysed.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that both children and their informants have diverse yet complementary perspectives on psychological outcomes. The study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and urgently calls for necessary intervention programmes that target all children affected by HIV/AIDS to effectively alleviate psychological distress and enhance the mental health of these children.

Keywords

AfricaGhanaHIV/AIDSmental healthpsychological distressorphansvulnerable children
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 46 , Issue 11 , August 2016 , pp. 2329 - 2336
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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