title: Human rights, mental illness, and HIV: the Luthando Neropsychiatric HIV Clinic in Soweto, South Africa.
abstract: HIV is the leading infectious killer of adults in the world today and a majority of persons with HIV live in southern Africa. Mental illness is common among patients with HIV. Persons with HIV and mental illness, however, are often denied access to HIV treatment for a variety of reasons, including presumed non-adherence, potential drug interactions, and lack of coordinated care. The exclusion of the mentally ill from HIV care is a concerning human rights issue. This paper discusses some of the human rights issues in the care of patients with mental illness and HIV and describes a successful model for integrated care developed at the Luthando Neuropsychiatric HIV Clinic in Soweto, South Africa. The Luthando clinic has provided care to more than 500 patients and has been shown to be a successful model for other programs to improve HIV care among the mentally ill.
authors: Luthando HIV Clinic, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto, South Africa. gregory.jonsson@wits.ac.za
authors: Greg
authors: G
authors: Jonsson
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Furin
authors: Fatema
authors: F
authors: Jeenah
authors: M Y
authors: MY
authors: Moosa
authors: Reshmi
authors: R
authors: Sivepersad
authors: Fran
authors: F
authors: Kalafatis
authors: Janine
authors: J
authors: Schoeman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult