title: Psychological functioning among vertically infected HIV-positive children and their primary caregivers.
abstract: The current study sought to explore the association between primary caregiver depressive symptoms and the psychological functioning in children vertically infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) living in Eastern Cape, South Africa. A cross-sectional data were collected using the Beck Depression Inventory and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire in a sample of 152 caregiver/child dyads. The results revealed that poorer psychological functioning in children was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in caregivers. This relationship existed whether or not the child was raised by a biological or non-biological caregiver as well as for both genders. Younger children's psychological functioning was more negatively influenced than that of older children raised by a caregiver with depressive symptoms. In the context of a large treatment gap for common mental disorders in South Africa, there is a need for interventions to address maternal mental health in families infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a mental health promotion strategy given that HIV-infected children are a particularly vulnerable population for poor mental and behavioural health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of the Witwatersrand , Johannesburg , South Africa.
authors.forename: Antonio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lentoor
authors.affiliation: b Discipline of Psychology, School of Applied Human Sciences , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
authors.forename: Kwaku Oppong
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Asante
authors.affiliation: c Heath Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
authors.forename: Kaymarlin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Govender
authors.affiliation: b Discipline of Psychology, School of Applied Human Sciences , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV-positive children; Psychological functioning; maternal HIV/AIDS; primary caregivers