Common mental disorders and intimate partner violence against pregnant women living with HIV in Cameroon: a cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Women living with HIV are at increased risk of poor mental health and intimate partner violence (IPV). Mental health disorders have been consistently associated with suboptimal HIV-related outcomes. Little is known about the prevalence or correlates of mental health disorders among pregnant women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: This study assessed the prevalence of probable common mental disorders (CMD), i.e., depressive or anxiety disorders, and the relationship between probable CMD and recent IPV among pregnant women living with HIV in Cameroon. The sample included 230 pregnant women living with HIV aged > 18 enrolled in care at 10 HIV clinics in Cameroon. Probable CMD was assessed with the WHO Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to assess the relationship between IPV and probable CMD. RESULTS: Almost half (42%) of participants had probable CMD using a 7/8 cut-off of the SRQ-20. Emotional, physical, and sexual IPV were reported by 44, 37, and 31% of respondents, respectively. In multivariable regression analyses, all forms of IPV assessed were significantly associated with greater odds of probable CMD. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women living with HIV in Cameroon had a high prevalence of probable CMD and IPV. Screening and services to address IPV and mental health are urgently needed for this population. Integrated interventions to both prevent and screen and address IPV and probable CMD should be developed, implemented, and evaluated.

The syndemic effects of mental ill health, household hunger, and intimate partner violence on adherence to antiretroviral therapy among pregnant women living with HIV in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: This research advances understanding of interrelationships among three barriers to adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH) in Cameroon: probable common mental disorders (CMD), intimate partner violence (IPV), and hunger. METHODS: The sample included 220 pregnant WLWH in Cameroon. Multivariable modified Poisson regression was conducted to assess the relationship between IPV, hunger, and CMD on ART adherence. RESULTS: Almost half (44%) of participants recently missed/mistimed an ART dose. Probable CMD was associated with greater risk of missed/mistimed ART dose (aRR 1.5 [95% CI 1.1, 1.9]). Hunger was associated with greater risk of missed/mistimed ART dose among those who reported IPV (aRR 1.9 [95% CI 1.2, 2.8]), but not among those who did not (aRR 0.8 [95% CI 0.2, 2.3]). CONCLUSION: Suboptimal ART adherence, CMD, and IPV were common among pregnant WLWH in Cameroon. Pregnant WLWH experiencing IPV and hunger may be especially vulnerable to suboptimal ART adherence.

Outcomes of protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy amongst children and associated-factors in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on protease inhibitor (PI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) amongst children in resource-limited settings, for informing on optimal paediatric regimens. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate therapeutic response to PI-based ART amongst HIV-infected Cameroonian children. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted amongst children aged 2-18 years receiving a PI-based ART at the Essos Hospital Centre (EHC), Yaounde, Cameroon. Primary end points were therapeutic success on PI-based ART, defined as clinical success (WHO I/II clinical stage), immunological success (CD4 ≥ 500/mm3) and viral suppression (viral load [VL]<1000 copies/ml). Factors associated with therapeutic success were assessed in uni- and multivariate analysis using SPSS software v.2.0; with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 71 eligible children on PI-based ART were enrolled (42 on initial and 29 on substituted regimens), with a median age of 8 [IQR: 5-12] years and mean duration on ART of 7 years. Following therapeutic responses, all (100%) experienced clinical success, 95.2% experienced immunological success (91.7% on initial and 97.2% on substituted PI/r-based regimens) and 74.7% viral suppression. In univariate analysis, viral suppression was associated with: younger age (p<0.0001), living with parents as opposed to guardians (p = 0.049), and the educational level (p<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, only the age ranges of 10-14 years (OR: 0.22 [0.07-0.73]) and 15-18 years (OR: 0.08 [0.02-0.57]), were determinants of poor viral suppression. CONCLUSION: Among these Cameroonian children, PI-based ART confers favourable clinical and immunological outcomes. The poor rate of viral suppression was mainly attributed to adolescence (10-18 years).