Risk and protective factors for depressive symptoms among the youth living with HIV in Namibia.

BACKGROUND: : Namibia has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates among young people living with HIV and AIDS. The study of mental well-being among this vulnerable population is emerging as an important area of public health research. METHODS: : This study examined how gender, social support, food insecurity, HIV-related stigma, HIV treatment adherence and HIV transmission knowledge are related to depressive symptoms among young people living with HIV in rural northern Namibia. Data were collected from 188 participants from the Zambezi region. RESULTS: : The hierarchical regression analysis revealed that being a female infected with HIV, having perceived food insecurity, experiencing more HIV-related stigma and having low levels of social support can exacerbate the severity of depressive symptoms in this sample of Namibian youth. DISCUSSION: : Our findings point to the need to expand social support interventions, enhance socio-economic programmes and reduce HIV-related stigma among young people living with HIV, especially those residing in rural, HIV endemic, resource-limited communities in developing countries.

The impact of depressive symptoms and social support on resilience among older adult caregivers.

In this study the authors explored how depressive symptoms and social support were related to the resilience of older caregivers (N = 117) caring children affected by HIV/AIDS in rural Northern Namibia, Africa. Our findings showed that lower levels of depressive symptoms and high levels of social support from significant others and family were statistically associated with increased resilience in older caregivers. There is a need for mental health services and social supports to improve the resilience of older caregivers caring for children affected by HIV and AIDS. There is an increasing need for more vigorous and concerted efforts from public and private sector practitioners and policy makers to expand social protection safety nets and develop more targeted economic interventions aimed at enhancing the resilience of older caregivers, especially those residing in rural HIV endemic communities in Namibia.

Depressive symptoms among older adults with HIV in Namibia: the role of social support and spirituality.

Background: More than 60% of older adults living with HIV reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Namibia has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. This study examined the association between social support, spirituality and depressive symptoms.Method and results: The sample consisted of 147 Oshiwambo-speaking older adults (mean age = 61 years, SD = 6.92 years) with HIV in Namibia. By utilising a hierarchical multivariate regression method, this study found that social support from friends and spirituality showed a significant negative relationship to depressive symptoms. In addition, self-rated health status and alcohol use were significant sociodemographic predicitive factors of depressive symptoms.Conclusion: This study suggests the need to develop interventions and support programmes that incorporate peer support and spiritual practice to promote health and well-being among older persons living with HIV in Namibia.

HIV stigma, resilience and depressive symptoms among older adults living with HIV in rural Namibia.

In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV-positive older adults aged 50 years and older experience complex psychosocial issues in addition to dealing with their HIV status and the ageing process. This study focused on the association between HIV stigma, resilience, and depressive symptoms among 147 older adults from the Oshana and Ohangwena health facilities in rural Namibia. The study used the hierarchical multivariate regression analysis method to reveal that there was a positive association between HIV stigma (negative self-perceptions) and depression as well as a negative relationship between resilience and depression. In addition, being female and higher education were protective factors, and disclosure of HIV status was a risk factor to predict depressive symptoms among the target population. In order to reduce HIV stigma and enhance resilience among older adults living with HIV in Africa, this study suggests the need to develop evidence-based interventions to increase coping strategies and resilience.

The relationship between social support and anxiety amongst children living with HIV in rural northern Namibia.

This study examined how HIV-related stigma and social support are related to anxiety among children living with HIV in rural northern Namibia. This is a cross-sectional exploratory study with a sample of 132 caregiver-child dyads. Our study found that higher levels of social support was correlated with lower levels of anxiety among children living with HIV, but higher levels of HIV-related stigma was not correlated with higher levels of anxiety. These findings point to the need for the development of more culturally and age specific interventions that enhance social support among children living with HIV, especially those in high-prevalence and socio-economically deprived settings.

Resilience among older caregivers in rural Namibia: The role of financial status, social support and health.

BACKGROUND: Namibia has one of the highest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence rates and one of the highest rates of orphanhood in the world, and older caregivers provide much of the care to Namibians living with HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (UNAIDS, 2014). In this study, the authors explore how financial status, social support, and health were related to the resilience of caregivers caring for people affected by HIV and AIDS in rural northern Namibia, Africa. METHOD: Data were collected through a structured interview from (N = 147) caregivers from the Zambezi region. RESULTS: Findings from this study show that employment and physical health were significantly associated with increased resilience in older caregivers. DISCUSSION: Our findings point to the need for employment assistance and health services to improve the resilience of caregivers caring for people living with HIV and AIDS. We conclude that there is a need for more vigorous concerted efforts from public and private sector practitioners and policy makers to create more sustained formal employment opportunities and intervention programs aimed at improving the overall health of older HIV caregivers, especially those residing in rural HIV endemic communities in developing countries.

Burden of Care among Caregivers of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Rural Namibia: Correlates and Outcomes.

This study examined the correlates of burden of caregivers providing care to people living with HIV/AIDS in rural northern Namibia and the consequences of caregivers' burden on their physical health and mental health. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit a total of 97 primary caregivers (N = 97) in rural Namibia. We found that hunger and HIV stigma were both positively associated with caregiver burden. Caregiver burden was positively related to depression and negatively related to quality of life. The findings underscore the complex relationships between food insecurity and HIV stigma on caregiver burden and the outcomes of burden on quality of life and depressive symptoms. Policy and practice implications are also discussed.

Associations between HIV-related stigma, self-esteem, social support, and depressive symptoms in Namibia.

OBJECTIVE: The current study sought to investigate the association between HIV-related stigma, self-esteem, social support, and depression of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Namibia. METHOD: Purposive sampling was used to recruit a total of 124 men and women living with HIV/AIDS in the Katima Mulilo region of northern Namibia. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect information on demographics, self-esteem, social support, HIV-related stigma, and depression. RESULTS: Correlation analysis revealed that HIV-related stigma, self-esteem, and social support were all significantly correlated with depression. Further, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis indicated that HIV-related stigma was the largest risk factor and self-esteem was the largest protective factor with respect to depressive symptoms. DISCUSSION: Findings indicated the necessity of appropriate assessment and intervention for psychosocial distress among PLWHA. Helping professionals should design evidence-based interventions that address individual and societal challenges that impact people living with HIV and AIDS.

Depressive symptoms among older caregivers raising children impacted by HIV/AIDS in the Omusati Region of Namibia.

The study of depressive symptoms among caregivers raising HIV/AIDS-orphans is emerging as an important area of research. However, it has not been explored at length in generational and cultural contexts. In this study, the authors explore the role of financial strain, raising a HIV-infected and/or impacted child, and caregiver knowledge on the depressive symptoms of 89-older caregivers raising HIV/AIDS-orphans in Namibia, Africa. In this study, we found elevated levels of depressive symptoms among this population. Using hierarchical regression, a significant positive association between financial strain and depressive symptoms was found. A significant negative association between caring for an HIV-infected orphan and depression was shown. Our work suggests the need for economic assistance programs and psychosocial interventions for older caregivers.