Psycho-social coping strategies among HIV-positive adolescents receiving care in a Nigerian HIV treatment centre
1 2 P.A.CUtah and E.C Herbertson
1Pharmacy Unit, NNPC Clinic, Lagos
2Clinical Sciences Dept. Nigerian Institute of Medical Research
(ebiereh@yahoo.com)
ABSTRACT
Background: Living with HIV/AIDS has psycho-social challenges, adoption of positive coping strategy is necessary for good treatment outcomes. Adolescents living with HIV have been reported to be poorly adherent to antiretroviral therapy, could this be because of psycho-social challenges? What coping strategies have some adolescents adopted to overcome psycho-social challenges?
Objectives: Study objective was to identify psychosocial challenges and coping strategies of adolescents living with HIV.
Method: Study setting was Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos. Study design was cross sectional using interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire. Study population was adolescents living with HIV, sample size was calculated based on prevalence of HIV in Nigerian adolescents, convenient sampling was employed. Data analyzed using SPSS VER.17.0. Socio-demographic data and coping strategies are presented as descriptive statistics; chi- square was used to determine association of explanatory variables of age and sex on experiencing psychosocial challenge or coping strategy adopted. Two major coping strategies were investigated, emotion-focused – involves use of negative emotions and spirituality because the stressor is perceived as being beyond one’s control and problem-focused, where solution is sought to ameliorate the stressor.
Results: Sample size was 34, 23(67.6%) male; 11(32.4%) female; mean age 15.7 years (±2.7). Most frequent psychosocial challenge was disclosure of HIV-status (27)79%. All respondents (100%) adopted a combination of both Problem-focused and Emotion-focused coping skills. Younger age (?13years), had statistically significant association with both experience of a psychosocial challenge (X2 =9.268, P=0.026) and adoption of Emotion-focused coping strategy. Gender had no statistically significant association with neither experience of psychosocial challenge nor coping strategy adopted.
Conclusion: This study showed that HIV status disclosure is a major psychosocial challenge in the sampled adolescent population and all respondents employed a combination of both Emotion-focused and Problem-focused coping strategies.
Keywords: Adolescent, Coping strategy, Disclosure, Psychosocial challenge