Abstract
BackgroundMental disorders are common among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Human immunodeficiency virus infection is associated with neurological complications, which may negatively affect antiretroviral treatment, leading to virologic as well as immunologic failure. The integration of mental healthcare services into HIV services at a primary healthcare level is vital, as this is the first contact point for most patients accessing healthcare services.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the knowledge of healthcare professionals about the integration of mental healthcare services into HIV services at a primary healthcare level.MethodThis study was a quantitative descriptive study, designed to determine the knowledge of healthcare professionals towards integrating mental healthcare services into routine services at primary healthcare centres. The purposive sampling method was employed to select the 200 healthcare professionals who participated in this study.ResultsThe majority of the healthcare professionals (91%) who participated in this study had limited knowledge regarding the integration of mental healthcare services into HIV services at a primary healthcare level. Very few (9%, n = 18) had adequate knowledge about the integration of mental healthcare services into HIV services.ConclusionMost of the participants had limited knowledge about the subject matter. This, therefore, shows that all stakeholders involved need to implement initiatives to address this knowledge gap.
Highlights
Mental disorders are common among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
The majority of the healthcare professionals (91%) who participated in this study had limited knowledge regarding the integration of mental healthcare services into HIV services at a primary healthcare level
Results obtained show that the majority of the healthcare professionals, 91%, had limited knowledge regarding the integration of mental healthcare services into HIV services at a primary healthcare level
Summary
Mental disorders are common among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Human immunodeficiency virus infection is associated with neurological complications, which may negatively affect antiretroviral treatment, leading to virologic as well as immunologic failure. Mental disorders seem to be significantly widespread among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) which can be corroborated by the fact that major depressive disorders (MDD) occur nearly twice as often among PLWH than the general population (Johnsson 2013). The connection between mental health conditions and HIV remains elusive. It is, known that the impact of HIV infection on the immune system and the opportunistic infections that are commonly linked with AIDS may result in neurological complications (Dubé et al 2005). Co-morbidities have the potential to impede effective healthcare delivery and may cause an increase in physical http://www.curationis.org.za
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