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“We are experiencing pain on our own”: mental health care to prevail over impacts of cultural silence on HIV

Gertrude Mwalabu (Department of Adult Health Nursing, School of Nursing, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Lilongwe, Malawi)
Catrin Evans (Associate Professor at School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK)
Sarah Redsell (Professor at Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK)
Pammla Petruka (Professor at College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada)
Patrick Mapulanga (Librarian at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences Library, Lilongwe, Malawi)

International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare

ISSN: 2056-4902

Article publication date: 29 March 2023

Issue publication date: 29 August 2024

42

Abstract

Purpose

This qualitative case study aims to investigate how current services meet the emotional needs of young women growing up with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Young women (15–19 years old), caregivers and service providers were recruited through three multidisciplinary HIV management centres in Malawi.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews were used to collect data for 14 “cases” (each “case” involved a young woman, a caregiver and a service provider, for a total of 42 participants). The interviews with adolescents were conducted using an innovative visual method known as the “my story” book.

Findings

Thematic analysis revealed that young women experienced traumatic experiences and emotional neglect after being diagnosed as HIV positive. Lack of adult support networks and social isolation were identified as intersecting factors contributing to their mental distress. According to the findings of this study, HIV care should more explicitly include comprehensive mental health-care services. This provision should include ongoing individualised counselling sessions, supplemented by communication skills training to help break the prevalent cultural silence on HIV issues. Young people living with HIV, in general, and young women, are more likely to experience mental health issues than their non-infected peers. Integrating comprehensive mental health evaluation and treatment into HIV care for young people can be beneficial.

Practical implications

Mental health issues are critical and underserved challenges among young people living with perinatally acquired HIV. Women experience a higher prevalence of mental challenges than men. Integrating comprehensive mental health evaluation and treatment into HIV care for young people can be beneficial. Therefore, interventions to assist young people with mental health issues are needed within the context of HIV management in Malawi.

Originality/value

Many studies on mental health and HIV/AIDS have been conducted. However, there is very little information as regards the emotional needs of young women growing up with perinatally acquired HIV. This study fills the void.

Keywords

Citation

Mwalabu, G., Evans, C., Redsell, S., Petruka, P. and Mapulanga, P. (2024), "“We are experiencing pain on our own”: mental health care to prevail over impacts of cultural silence on HIV", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 463-474. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-08-2022-0089

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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