Abstract
BackgroundThe HIV epidemic in Vietnam has been primarily driven by injection drug use. HIV-infected people who inject drugs (PWID) in Vietnam have very high rates of mental health problems, which can accelerate progression to AIDS and increase mortality rates. No research has explored the barriers and facilitators of mental health care for HIV-infected PWID in Vietnam.MethodsWe conducted 28 in-depth interviews among HIV-infected PWID (n = 16), HIV and MMT (methadone maintenance treatment) providers (n = 8), and health officials (n = 4) in Hanoi. We explored participants’ perceptions of mental health disorders, and barriers and facilitators to seeking and receiving mental health care.ResultsHIV-infected PWID were perceived by both PWID, HIV/MMT providers, and health officials to be vulnerable to mental health problems and to have great need for mental health care. Perceived social, physical, and economical barriers included stigma towards HIV, injection drug use, and mental illnesses; lack of awareness around mental health issues; lack of human resources, facilities and information on mental health services; and limited affordability of mental health services. Social support from family and healthcare providers was a perceived facilitator of mental health care.ConclusionsInterventions should raise self-awareness of HIV-infected PWID about common mental health problems; address social, physical, economic barriers to seeking mental health services; and increase social support for patients.
Highlights
The Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Vietnam has been primarily driven by injection drug use
Since health providers and health officials had very similar perceptions of mental health disorders and understandings of barriers and facilitators to mental health care for HIVinfected people who inject drugs (PWID), we presented their points of view together under one single group, referred to hereafter as stakeholders
Interviewers asked all participants whether they had heard of the term “r i loạn sức kh e tâm thần” (Vietnamese word for “mental health disorders”) before and if they had, what came to their minds when they heard that term
Summary
HIV-infected people who inject drugs (PWID) in Vietnam have very high rates of mental health problems, which can accelerate progression to AIDS and increase mortality rates. People with HIV (PWH) have very high rates of common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression [1,2,3,4,5]. Vietnam has been identified as one of six countries accounting for half of the global population of PWID, with the HIV prevalence among this group as high as 28.5% [14]. In Vietnam, one study reported that the prevalence of moderate and severe depressive symptoms among HIV-infected PWID are 25% and 44%, respectively [15]. Despite serious consequences of mental illness on health and HIV progression, mental health
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