Abstract
One of the most major challenges the healthcare system faces till date is the HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS or the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Being a burden on the population’s health, it causes social and economic problems for individuals and their families and communities in many countries (Trapero-Bertran & Oliva-Moreno, 2014). Many of the HIV patients also face social problems such as stigma, poverty, depression and substance abuse that can affect their quality of life (Basavaraj, Navya& Rashmi, 2010). Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, almost 78 million people are infected with the virus and 39 million people have died because of the epidemic (Herrman, Shekhar & Rob, 2005). At the end of 2014, it is estimated that about 36.9 million people were living with HIV and 1.2 million people have died because of AIDS (Herrman et al., 2005). There is, however, a considerable difficulty in ascertaining the actual number of people who are affected with the virus as the high risk group people are either reluctant to undergo testing or reluctant to disclose their diagnosis. This is because of various factors like societal factors as well as the factors that do not allow for a person to undergo testing (Das & Leibowitz, 2010). The general challenges of the people living with HIV/AIDS are the steadily declining quality of life, fear of death, coping with uncertainty and the additional challenge of facing the stigma attached with the disease and specifically their mental health (Remien&Rabkin, 2001).
Highlights
The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (Herrman et al, 2005)
PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV/AIDS People living with HIV/AIDS suffer from a wide range of mental health issues such as depression, anger, stress, suicidal ideation as well as low self-esteem and adjustment issues (Wu & Li, 2013)
This is due to rejection, loss of social identity, and the physical consequences of HIV disease (Eller et al, 2014; Herek, Saha, & Burack, 2013). They tend to internalize the stigma and discrimination, leading to have a negative self-image and tend to blame and question themselves and suffer from guilt (Eller et al, 2014). Denial is another factor associated with HIV/AIDS wherein, the people affected deny the presence of the disease
Summary
The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (Herrman et al, 2005). PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV/AIDS People living with HIV/AIDS suffer from a wide range of mental health issues such as depression, anger, stress, suicidal ideation as well as low self-esteem and adjustment issues (Wu & Li, 2013). Denial is another factor associated with HIV/AIDS wherein, the people affected deny the presence of the disease.
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