In this paper we consider the possibility that psychosocial effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic may have acted to sustain and entrench the epidemic. After reviewing the evidence for an association between HIV/AIDS and psychological dysfunction in the form of breakdown of coping responses to the point of psychiatric disorder, we suggest that it is not inevitable that this should have happened. We argue that these effects are partially created and certainly sustained by the manner in which the epidemic has been responded to. Reviewing findings from our previous research on mental health effects of HIV/AIDS and analysing interviews conducted with HIV positive respondents, we describe psychological responses to HIV infection and their possible epidemiological consequences. We argue that these have acted with vicious circularity, undermining responses to the epidemic and compounding the predisposing psychosocial vectors of HIV infection. In clos ing we suggest that particular intervention strategies need to be much more care fully thought through and we make some recommendations regarding the need to respond to the mental health dimensions of HIV/AIDS.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baingana, F., Thomas, R. & Comblain, C. (2005). HIV/AIDS and Mental Health. Washington, DC: World Bank
Catalan, J. (1999). Mental Health and HIV Infection. Psychological and Psychiatric Aspects. London: UCL Press
Connelly, M. & Macleod, C. (2003). Waging war: Discourses of HIV/AIDS in South African media. African Journal of AIDS Research, 2(1), 63–73
Cournos, F. & Forstein, M. (eds.) (2000). What Mental Health Practitioners Need to Know About HIV and AIDS. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
DOH (2004). National Antiretroviral Treatment Guidelines. Pretoria: National Department of Health
DOH (2007). National HIV and Syphilis Antenatal Seroprevalence Survey in South Africa — 2007. Pretoria: Department of Health
Ezzy, D. (2000). Illness narratives: time, hope and HIV. Social Science and Medicine, 50(5), 605–617
Freeman, M.C., Patel, V., Collins, P.Y. & Bertolote, J.M. (2005). Integrating mental health in global initiatives for HIV/AIDS. British Journal of Psychiatry, 187, 1–2
Freeman, M., Nkomo, N., Kafaar, Z. & Kelly, K. (2007). Factors associated with prevalence of mental disorder in people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. AIDS Care, 19(10), 1201–1209
Freeman, M., Nkomo, N., Kafaar, Z. & Kelly, K. (2008). Mental disorder in people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. South African Journal of Psychology. in press
Gordillo, V., del Amo, J., Soriano, V. & Gonzalez-Lahoz, J. (1999). Sociodemographic and Psychological Variables Influencing Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy. AIDS, 13, 1763–1769
Green, G. & Smith, R. (2004). The psychosocial and healthcare needs of HIV positive people in the United Kingdom: A review. HIV Medicine, 5(1), 5–46
Hargreaves, J.R. (2002). Socio-economic status and risk of HIV infection in an urban population of Kenya. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 7, 793–802
Kalichman, S.C., Sikkema, K.J. & Somlai, A. (1996). People living with HIV infection who attend and do not attend support groups: A pilot study of needs, characteristics and experiences. AIDS Care, 8 (5), 589–599
Magongo, B., Magwaza, S., Mathambo, V. & Makhanya, N. (2002). National Report on the Assessment of the Public Sector's Voluntary Counselling and Testing Programme. Durban: Health Systems Trust
Patel, V. & Kleinman, A. (2003). Poverty and common mental disorders in developing countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, 81(8), 609–615
Shisana, O., Rehle, T., Simbayi, L.C., Parker, W., Zuma, K., Bhana, A., Connolly, C., Jooste, S. & Pillay, V. (2005). South African National HIV Prevalence, HIV Incidence, Behaviour and Communications Survey, 2005. Cape Town: HSRC Press
Williams, D.R., Herman, A., Stein, D.J., Heeringa, S.G., Jackson, P.B., Moomal H. & Kessler R.C. (2007). 12-Month Mental Disorders in South Africa: Prevalence, Service Use and Demographic Correlates in the Population-Based South African Stress and Health Study. Psychological Medicine(Oct), 1–10
World Health Organisation (2005). Mental Health and HIV/AIDS. Organisation and Systems Support for Mental Health Interventions in Anti-retroviral (ARV) Therapy programmes. Johannesburg
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kelly, K., Freeman, M., Nkomo, N., Ntlabati, P. (2009). The Vicious Circularity of Mental Health Effects of HIV/AIDS: Symptom and Cause of Poor Responses to the Epidemic. In: Møller, V., Huschka, D. (eds) Quality of Life and the Millennium Challenge. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 35. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8569-7_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8569-7_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-8568-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-8569-7
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)