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. 2021 Jun;28(3):318-327.
doi: 10.1007/s12529-020-09921-5.

Cumulative Burden of Mental Health Factors and Engagement in HIV Care in Argentina

Omar Sued  1 , Diego Cecchini  2   3 , John M Abbamonte  4 , Violeta J Rodriguez  4   5 , Lissa N Mandell  4 , Nicholas V Cristofari  4 , Maria Inés Figueroa  6 , Isabel Cassetti  3 , Pedro Cahn  6 , Stephen M Weiss  4 , Maria L Alcaide  7 , Florencia Cahn  8 , Liliana Calanni  9 , Ana Crinejo  10 , Daniel David  10 , Sergio Lupo  11 , Carolina Pérez  8 , Rufina Pérez  9 , Claudia Rodriguez  2 , María José Rolón  12 , Alicia Sisto  12 , Liliana Trapé  11 , Deborah L Jones  4
Affiliations

Cumulative Burden of Mental Health Factors and Engagement in HIV Care in Argentina

Omar Sued et al. Int J Behav Med. 2021 Jun.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Cumulative burden of multiple mental health conditions may worsen physical health outcomes in vulnerable populations. Accordingly, identifying cumulative burdens of mental health conditions that may affect HIV treatment and care can guide public health strategies to reduce their impact on HIV-related health outcomes. This study examined the relationship between the cumulative burden of mental health conditions and factors associated with engagement in HIV care in Argentina.

Method: Data for this study was obtained at baseline from Conexiones y Opciones Positivas en la Argentina 2 (COPA2). Participants (N = 360) were cisgender patients living with HIV who were lost to care, recruited from seven clinics serving people living with HIV in four Argentine urban centers. Cumulative burden of mental health conditions (i.e., depressive symptoms, problematic substance use, unhealthy alcohol use, and psychotic symptoms) was assessed.

Results: Every one-point increase in the number of mental health conditions present was associated with a decrement in patient-provider communication (b = - 0.22, p < .001), self-efficacy (b = - 0.13, p = .012), and motivation for adherence (b = - 0.11, p = .039).

Conclusion: This study found cumulative burden of depression, problematic substance use, unhealthy alcohol use, and psychotic symptoms to be negatively associated with factors related to engagement in HIV care. Results highlight the importance of identification and treatment of challenges to mental health, in order to ameliorate their influence on engagement in HIV care.

Keywords: Argentina; Comorbidities; HIV; South America.

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References

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