Psychosocial profile, Psychopathology in children with HIV & AIDS: A Case - Control study

• Main Authors: Vamsi K Inakollu, Usha V.R Lanka, D M Gowri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Archives of Mental Health
• Subjects: socio-demographic factors; psychopathology; hiv children; behavioural problems
• Online Access: http://www.amhonline.org/article.asp?issn=2589-9171;year=2017;volume=18;issue=2;spage=104;epage=113;aulast=Inakollu;type=0
• ISSN: 2589-9171; 2589-918X

Background: Despite the potential psychosocial risks associated with having a chronic illness, a limited number of empirical studies have examined the prevalence of mental health problems in children with HIV. Aims: To study the psychosocial profile and psychopathology in children with HIV & AIDS. Methodology: The study was carried out at PediatricAnti RetroviralTherapy centre and OP block of Niloufer Hospital, tertiary hospital at Hyderabad. Three groups of each 30 children were selected by purposive sampling namely children with HIV staying with parents, children with HIV staying in foster homes and children without HIV staying in foster homes reporting for minor health ailments.Informed consent was taken from caregivers. Sociodemographic data and details pertaining to HIV were obtained from each followed by administration of CPMSscale. Results were compiled and subjected to statistical evaluation. Results: Socio demographic factors such as lower level of paternal education, lower maternal education, death of father and death of mother were significantly associated with HIV infected children. Compared to Non HIV children, HIV children had higher total CPMS score and higher scores in CPMS factors of anxiety, low intelligence with behavior problems, special symptoms, physical illness with emotional problems and high scores of conduct disorder. Conclusion: HIV infected children suffer from both internalizing and externalizing behavioural problems.Key words: Socio-demographic factors, psychopathology, HIV children, behavioural problems.