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Emotional and Behavioural Problems of HIV-infected Children: Findings from a Southeastern Nigeria Tertiary Healthcare
Ikechukwu Frank Ogbonna1, Nwaonu Chijioke Nwakanma2, Joseph Ezeogu3
1Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Nigeria.
Insights
HIV-infected children have a higher risk of emotional and behavioral problems (EBP). Emotional problems were significantly more common in HIV-infected children compared to their HIV-negative peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Mental Health
Background:
- HIV infection in children can lead to severe health issues, including emotional and behavioral problems (EBP).
- Existing research highlights a significant burden of EBP in the general pediatric population, but specific data on HIV-infected children remain limited.
- This study addresses the knowledge gap concerning the prevalence and types of EBP in children living with HIV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) in HIV-infected children.
- To identify the types of EBP prevalent in this vulnerable population.
- To compare the incidence of EBP in HIV-infected children with age and sex-matched HIV-negative controls.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, comparative study involving 386 children aged 2-15 years (193 HIV-infected subjects and 193 HIV-negative controls).
- Participants were recruited from a Paediatric HIV Clinic and local primary/secondary schools in Umuahia.
- Emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, alongside sociodemographic data collection.
Main Results:
- HIV-infected children exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of EBP (31.6%) compared to controls (7.8%) (p<0.001).
- Subjects were three times more likely to experience EBP (aOR=3.03).
- Emotional problems were significantly more prevalent in HIV-infected children (p=0.001), with subjects being six times more likely to have them (aOR=6.26).
Conclusions:
- A substantial burden of emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) exists among HIV-infected children in Umuahia.
- Emotional problems represent the most common type of EBP observed in this cohort.
- Findings underscore the need for targeted mental health support for children living with HIV.
Background:
In children, HIV infection presents with grave consequences, including a predisposition to emotional and behavioural problems (EBP). These are mental health problems affecting thoughts, emotions, behaviours and relationships, and may be categorised into emotional problems (EP) and behavioural problems (BP). Studies have shown a high burden of EBP in children; however, knowledge gaps still exist regarding the burden of EBP on HIV-infected children. Our study seeks to address these gaps by determining the prevalence and type of EBP among HIV-infected children.
Methodology:
This cross-sectional and comparative study enrolled 386 participants (193 subjects and 193 controls). The subjects were HIV-infected children aged 2-15 years attending the Paediatric HIV Clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. The controls were age and sex-matched HIV-negative children attending primary or secondary schools in Umuahia. Sociodemographic characteristics were assessed, and EBP was determined using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire.
Results:
Sixty-one subjects (31.6%) had EBP compared to 15 controls (7.8%) and this difference was significant (p<0.001). The subjects were three times more likely to have EBP than the controls (aOR=3.03; CI=1.17-7.82). The EBP type showed that, while there was no significant difference in the multivariate analysis of the behavioural problems, emotional problems were significantly higher in the subjects than in the controls (p = 0.001). The subjects were six times more likely to have emotional problems than the controls (aOR=6.26; CI=2.80-13.97).
Conclusion:
There is a high burden of EBP among HIV-infected children in Umuahia with emotional problems as the common type.
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