Policy, Strategy and Epidemiology

The vicious circularity of mental health effects of HIV/AIDS: Symptom and cause of poor responses to the epidemic.   

Abstract 

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 closing we suggest that particular intervention strategies need to be much more carefully thought through and we make some recommendations regarding the need to respond to the mental health dimensions of HIV/AIDS. 

HIV prevalence and related factors: Higher Education Sector Study, South Africa, 2008–2009 

Results from the higher education survey undertaken by the Higher Education HIV and AIDS Programme (HEAIDS). The research featured an HIV prevalence study and knowledge, attitude, behaviour and practice (KABP) survey, administered to more than 23,000 staff and students at 21 higher education institutions in South Africa. In addition, CADRE was responsible for a qualitative sub-study involving 600 students and staff in 67 focus groups and 60 interviews.