Coping with loneliness and stigma associated with HIV in a resource-limited setting, making a case for mental health interventions; a sequential mixed methods study
Abstract Background Challenges such as stigma and loneliness may increase vulnerability to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and negatively affect the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV) despite the massive investment in access to antiretroviral therapy. This study aims to d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04643-w |
| _version_ | 1797863891435257856 |
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| author | Jerry Paul Ninnoni Sampson Opoku Agyemang Lydia Bennin Elizabeth Agyare Leveana Gyimah Kafui Senya Nyonuku Akosua Baddoo Francis Annor Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah |
| author_facet | Jerry Paul Ninnoni Sampson Opoku Agyemang Lydia Bennin Elizabeth Agyare Leveana Gyimah Kafui Senya Nyonuku Akosua Baddoo Francis Annor Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah |
| author_sort | Jerry Paul Ninnoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Challenges such as stigma and loneliness may increase vulnerability to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and negatively affect the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV) despite the massive investment in access to antiretroviral therapy. This study aims to determine the level of loneliness and stigma and explore the coping resources employed by PLHIV in a resource-constrained setting. Methods This was a sequential mixed methods study conducted at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) in Ghana between May and December 2021. A total of 395 adults were selected using a simple random sampling technique. HIV Stigma Scale and UCLA Loneliness Scale were used to collect quantitative data. A purposive sampling technique was applied to recruit 18 participants to saturation using a semi-structured interview guide. SPSS version 21 was used for the statistical analysis of the quantitative data. HIV-related loneliness and stigma levels were estimated, and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate associated factors using a statistical significance of p-value (p < .05). In general, the thematic analysis approach by Braun and Clark was employed to analyse the qualitative data. Findings were then triangulated. Results The mean age was 46.79 years (± 12.53), 75.4% of the participants were female, with a prevalence of stigma of 99.0% (95%CI = 97.4–99.7) and loneliness of 30.1% (95%CI = 25.6–34.9). Tertiary-level education and instrumental support were associated with lower levels of loneliness. In contrast, comorbidity, personalised stigma, negative self-image, and self-blame were positively related to loneliness. Thematic analyses of the qualitative data produced a range of themes that showed that people living with HIV rely on personal resources, social support networks, and behaviour modification strategies to manage their condition. In particular, some of these strategies include; religiosity and spirituality, family and friends, medication and professional support systems. Conclusion The results suggest that PLHIV in the developing world face enormous challenges, socially, psychologically and financially. Although there have been global efforts to make HIV services accessible, the findings suggest a need for integrating mental health services contextually to reduce loneliness and HIV-related stigma to improve quality of life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:44:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b61f3e87d58b4540ac798372962de542 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:44:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-b61f3e87d58b4540ac798372962de5422023-03-22T12:00:19ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-03-0123111510.1186/s12888-023-04643-wCoping with loneliness and stigma associated with HIV in a resource-limited setting, making a case for mental health interventions; a sequential mixed methods studyJerry Paul Ninnoni0Sampson Opoku Agyemang1Lydia Bennin2Elizabeth Agyare3Leveana Gyimah4Kafui Senya5Nyonuku Akosua Baddoo6Francis Annor7Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah8Department of Mental Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Mental Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Mental Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Cape CoastPublic Health Unit, Cape Coast Teaching HospitalCommunicable and Non-Communicable Diseases cluster, World Health Organisation Country OfficeCommunicable and Non-Communicable Diseases cluster, World Health Organisation Country OfficeNational AIDS/STIs Control ProgrammeDirecctorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy, University of Cape CoastPublic Health Unit, Cape Coast Teaching HospitalAbstract Background Challenges such as stigma and loneliness may increase vulnerability to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and negatively affect the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV) despite the massive investment in access to antiretroviral therapy. This study aims to determine the level of loneliness and stigma and explore the coping resources employed by PLHIV in a resource-constrained setting. Methods This was a sequential mixed methods study conducted at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) in Ghana between May and December 2021. A total of 395 adults were selected using a simple random sampling technique. HIV Stigma Scale and UCLA Loneliness Scale were used to collect quantitative data. A purposive sampling technique was applied to recruit 18 participants to saturation using a semi-structured interview guide. SPSS version 21 was used for the statistical analysis of the quantitative data. HIV-related loneliness and stigma levels were estimated, and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate associated factors using a statistical significance of p-value (p < .05). In general, the thematic analysis approach by Braun and Clark was employed to analyse the qualitative data. Findings were then triangulated. Results The mean age was 46.79 years (± 12.53), 75.4% of the participants were female, with a prevalence of stigma of 99.0% (95%CI = 97.4–99.7) and loneliness of 30.1% (95%CI = 25.6–34.9). Tertiary-level education and instrumental support were associated with lower levels of loneliness. In contrast, comorbidity, personalised stigma, negative self-image, and self-blame were positively related to loneliness. Thematic analyses of the qualitative data produced a range of themes that showed that people living with HIV rely on personal resources, social support networks, and behaviour modification strategies to manage their condition. In particular, some of these strategies include; religiosity and spirituality, family and friends, medication and professional support systems. Conclusion The results suggest that PLHIV in the developing world face enormous challenges, socially, psychologically and financially. Although there have been global efforts to make HIV services accessible, the findings suggest a need for integrating mental health services contextually to reduce loneliness and HIV-related stigma to improve quality of life.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04643-wStigmaLonelinessCoping strategiesHIV/AIDSMental healthGhana |
| spellingShingle | Jerry Paul Ninnoni Sampson Opoku Agyemang Lydia Bennin Elizabeth Agyare Leveana Gyimah Kafui Senya Nyonuku Akosua Baddoo Francis Annor Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah Coping with loneliness and stigma associated with HIV in a resource-limited setting, making a case for mental health interventions; a sequential mixed methods study BMC Psychiatry Stigma Loneliness Coping strategies HIV/AIDS Mental health Ghana |
| title | Coping with loneliness and stigma associated with HIV in a resource-limited setting, making a case for mental health interventions; a sequential mixed methods study |
| title_full | Coping with loneliness and stigma associated with HIV in a resource-limited setting, making a case for mental health interventions; a sequential mixed methods study |
| title_fullStr | Coping with loneliness and stigma associated with HIV in a resource-limited setting, making a case for mental health interventions; a sequential mixed methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coping with loneliness and stigma associated with HIV in a resource-limited setting, making a case for mental health interventions; a sequential mixed methods study |
| title_short | Coping with loneliness and stigma associated with HIV in a resource-limited setting, making a case for mental health interventions; a sequential mixed methods study |
| title_sort | coping with loneliness and stigma associated with hiv in a resource limited setting making a case for mental health interventions a sequential mixed methods study |
| topic | Stigma Loneliness Coping strategies HIV/AIDS Mental health Ghana |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04643-w |
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