Living through a pandemic: depression and anxiety experienced by youth living with HIV in South Africa

ABSTRACT

Youth living with HIV (YLHIV) face significant psychosocial challenges and are at increasedrisk of developing depression and anxiety. This study aims to invesBgate symptoms ofdepression, anxiety and associaBons with psychosocial factors in YLHIV during the first andthird waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. This longitudinal study enrolled 135 YLHIV (ages 12-21) in Cape Town, South Africa. Measures administered telephonically included theCoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey (CRISIS quesBonnaire), Center for Epidemiologic StudiesDepression Scale (CES-D), Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Youth Inventory. During the firstwave of COVID-19, 7.5% and 8.0% of YLHIV were depressed (<18 and ≥18 years,respecBvely), and 10% and 4% of parBcipants were anxious (<18 and ≥18 years). During thethird wave, 8.9% and 40.6% of YLHIV were depressed (<18 and ≥18 years), and 13.3% and12.5% (<18 and ≥18 years) were anxious. Depression and anxiety were measured using cutoffscores provided by clinical measures. Symptoms of depression and anxiety in YLHIVescalated over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Socio-economic factors, substanceuse, disrupted support and stability concerns were associated with depression and anxiety.These data highlight the increasing need of mental health support and social intervenBonsfor YLHIV in post-pandemic South Africa.

KEYWORDS:

• Good health and well-being
• HIV
• adolescent
• COVID-19
• pandemic
• mental health
• SDG 3: Good health and well-being

Acknowledgements

We thank all participating adolescents and their caregivers, and study staff for their commitment to this work. JH was the principal investigator of this study. She conceptualised and designed the study, and critically reviewed and approved the final manuscript as submitted. JJ drafted the initial manuscript carried out the initial analyses, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. NP designed the data collection instruments, and coordinated and supervised data collection and entry, conducted the secondary analysis, critically reviewed the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The Treasury of South Africa describes a township as “that were originally created as separate areas for black people, generally located on the periphery of towns and cities; low-income housing estates, which are generally not fully functional neighbourhoods; informal settlements. These areas are characterised by low levels of community facilities and commercial investment, high unemployment, low household incomes and poverty.” https://www.treasury.gov.za/divisions

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Cape Town HREC 295/2022.