YouBelong Home: A Ugandan Community Mental Health Intervention.

In Uganda, low resources for mental health provision combine with disadvantage and inadequate supports for family and community-based care. Catalysed by the need to reduce overcrowded psychiatric hospital wards and frequent readmissions at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital (BNRMH) in Kampala, the nongovernment organisation YouBelong Uganda (YBU) developed the YouBelong Home (YBH) intervention. YBH is a theoretically eclectic pre and post hospital discharge intervention. This paper reports on qualitative findings of the project Curtailing Hospital Readmissions for Patients with Severe Mental Illness in Africa (CHaRISMA), which explored how to refine the YBH intervention. The project was funded by a UK Joint Global Health Trials (JGHT) Development Grant. Data was collected through structured interviews with service users and caregivers, reflective practice by the YBH implementing team and a stakeholder focus group. A summary of refinements to the YBH intervention follows the TIDieR format (Template for Intervention Description and Replication).

Substance use among HIV-infected adolescents in Uganda: rates and association with potential risks and outcome factors.

This article sets out to investigate alcohol and substance use (ASU) among adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) in the sub-Saharan African setting of Uganda. A cross-sectional analysis of the records of 479 adolescents (aged between 12and 17 years) attending the study, "Mental health among HIV infected CHildren and Adolescents in KAmpala and Masaka, Uganda (the CHAKA study)" was undertaken. ASU was assessed through both youth self-report and caregiver report using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 referenced instruments, the Youth Inventory-4R and the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory-5 (CASI-5). Rates and association with potential risk and outcome factors were investigated using logistic regression models. The rate of ASU was 29/484 (5.9%) with the most frequently reported ASU being alcohol 22/484 (4.3%) and marijuana 10/484 (2.1%). Functional impairment secondary to ASU was reported by 10/484 (2.1%) of the youth. ASU was significantly associated with urban residence, caregiver psychological distress and the psychiatric diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. On associations with negative outcomes, ASU was significantly associated with only "ever had sex". Health care for ALWH in sub-Saharan Africa should include ASU prevention and management strategies.

Burden of Depression in Outpatient HIV-Infected adults in Sub-Saharan Africa; Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Despite the substantial burden of HIV in Africa, and the knowledge that depression causes worse HIV outcomes, the burden of depression in people living with HIV in Africa is unknown. We searched Pubmed and four other databases using key terms: depression, Africa, HIV, and prevalence from 2008 to 2018. We summarized depression prevalence by country. We estimated the burden of depression using our prevalence data and 2018 UNAIDS HIV estimates. Our search yielded 70 articles across 16 African countries. The overall prevalence of major depression in those HIV-infected using a diagnostic interview was 15.3% (95% CI 12.5-17.1%). We estimate that 3.63 million (99.7% CI 3.15-4.19 million) individuals with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa have major depression and provide country-level estimates. We estimate that 1.57 million (99.7% CI 1.37-1.82 million) DALYs are lost among people with depression and HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is a significant burden of depression in Africans with HIV. Further work to screen for and treat depression in Sub-Saharan Africa is needed to improve HIV outcomes and achieve the 90-90-90 UNAIDS goals.

The relationship between cognitive change and physical health and behavioural outcomes in a Ugandan cohort of adults living with HIV - a longitudinal study.

We investigated changes in cognitive function and physical health and behavioural outcomes (HIV disease progression, health-seeking behaviour, adherence to HIV medications and risky sexual behaviour) at baseline and 12 months later among 1126 Ugandan adults living with HIV. Overall, cognitive function improved from baseline to follow-up, except for gait speed, which was slower at follow-up compared to baseline. There were improvements in physical health and behavioural outcomes by follow-up, with greater improvements among individuals on ART compared to those not on ART. Change in gait speed over time significantly predicted risky sexual behaviours at follow-up. This is the first study to investigate the longitudinal relationships between cognitive function and health outcomes among Ugandan adults living with HIV and provide insights into the possible links between cognitive function and negative clinical and behavioural health outcomes in people living with HIV.

Caregiver mental health and HIV-infected child wellness: perspectives from Ugandan caregivers.

Prior studies indicate a substantial link between maternal depression and early child health but give limited consideration to the direction of this relationship or the context in which it occurs. We sought to create a contextually informed conceptual framework of this relationship through semi-structured interviews with women that had lived experience of caring for an HIV-infected child while coping with depression and anxiety symptoms. Caregivers explained their role in raising healthy children as complex and complicated by poverty, stigma, and isolation. Caregivers discussed the effects of their own mental health on child well-being as primarily emotional and behavioral, and explained how looking after a child could bring distress, particularly when unable to provide desired care for sick children. Our findings suggest the need for investigation of the reciprocal effects of child sickness on caregiver wellness and for integrated programs that holistically address the needs of HIV-affected families.

Reflections of ageing among older adults in a Ugandan community: A qualitative analysis into the benefits and pains of ageing.

Background: The way societies comprehend and interpret aging has been in constant flux, mainly as life expectancy benchmarks increase and worldwide dynamics transform. Similar to many other nations, Uganda is experiencing this demographic shift. People aged 60 and above, who form a mere 2.7% of Uganda's population, are gradually emerging as a segment worth attention. This surge in life expectancy, which has increased from 50 to 63 years over the last decade, indicates a significant transformation in healthcare, lifestyles, and societal structures. Given this backdrop, there is a pressing need to delve deeper into the perceptions and experiences of this age cohort, especially in Central Uganda. This area mirrors the national trends. Methods: This study adopted a rigorous methodological approach. Individuals aged 60 years and above were selected through purposive sampling, which aimed to draw out rich and diverse narratives. These participants participated in seven in-depth Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) held in Wakiso District. To ensure accuracy in representation, all discussions were first transcribed in Luganda, the local dialect, before careful translation to English. Results: The participants presented a broad age spectrum from 62 to 90 years. The demographic data revealed a majority of female participants (54%), and a noteworthy statistic was that over half (51%) lacked a steady income source. Meticulous thematic analysis uncovered three themes. First, the journey of ageing encompasses physical, psychological, and social shifts, such as diminishing mobility, deteriorating health, and mounting social isolation. Second, the brighter side of ageing manifests in intangibles such as accumulated wisdom and a profound sense of life's accomplishments. The third theme echoed the harsher realities of aging, highlighting struggles with maintaining independence, looming financial challenges, and the sting of social exclusion.

An Association of Quality of Life and Ageing Perceptions among Community Dwelling Older Adults in Uganda.

Background: Uganda's population, though, largely characterized by young people, has seen the number of people aged 60 and over grow from 686,000 twenty years ago, to 1,433,596 in 2014. Effective caring for the well-being of this population requires strategic and deliberate planning that involves Quality Of Life (QoL) assessments. QoL assessments among the elderly are important in evaluating the efficacy of strategies, such as health interventions, welfare programs, health care and well-being of the elderly. However, elderly in Uganda face several challenges, ranging from loneliness, poor housing, lack of social and financial support and poor health. These may negatively affect older persons' quality of life and consequently their perceptions and attitudes towards aging. Methods: The study was carried out in 2019 in the communities of Nansana and Busukuma town councils in Wakiso district, Uganda. The participants were 380 people 60 years and older. To establish the association between perceptions of ageing and QoL, this study utilized a locally adapted version of the Older Person's Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL) and the Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ). The OPQOL assesses three domains of QoL: Health QoL (HQoL); Social economic QoL (SQoL); and Psychosocial QoL (PQoL). The B-APQ assesses perceptions about physical age, participation in social activities, and perceptions about ability to regulate emotions as one ages. Pearson's Chi-square tests were used to characterize the relationship between the perceptions and quality of life. Results: The majority of the respondents, 61% (95%CI 56.7-64.8), had negative perceptions towards ageing. Eighty six percent had poor HQoL, 90% poor SQoL and 83% poor PQoL. There was a significant association between good HQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 7.3670, P = 0.007) as well as with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 18.1803, P<0.001). There was a significant association between good SQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 5.3472, P = 0.021), as well with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 10.5128, P<0.001). A significant association between good PQoL and positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 9.2414, P= 0.002). Conclusion: Positive perceptions of ageing are associated with good QoL. Directly addressing perceptions of ageing could be a low cost and effective strategy to improve the QoL of older persons in SSA.

Designing and evaluating Brain Powered Games for cognitive training and rehabilitation in at-risk African children.

BACKGROUND: Valid, reliable, accessible, and cost-effective computer-training approaches can be important components in scaling up educational support across resource-poor settings, such as sub-Saharan Africa. The goal of the current study was to develop a computer-based training platform, the Michigan State University Games for Entertainment and Learning laboratory's Brain Powered Games (BPG) package that would be suitable for use with at-risk children within a rural Ugandan context and then complete an initial field trial of that package. METHODS: After game development was completed with the use of local stimuli and sounds to match the context of the games as closely as possible to the rural Ugandan setting, an initial field study was completed with 33 children (mean age = 8.55 ± 2.29 years, range 6-12 years of age) with HIV in rural Uganda. The Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), CogState computer battery, and the Non-Verbal Index from the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition (KABC-II) were chosen as the outcome measures for pre- and post-intervention testing. The children received approximately 45 min of BPG training several days per week for 2 months (24 sessions). RESULTS: Although some improvements in test scores were evident prior to BPG training, following training, children demonstrated clinically significant changes (significant repeated-measures outcomes with moderate to large effect sizes) on specific TOVA and CogState measures reflecting processing speed, attention, visual-motor coordination, maze learning, and problem solving. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide preliminary support for the acceptability, feasibility, and neurocognitive benefit of BPG and its utility as a model platform for computerized cognitive training in cross-cultural low-resource settings.

Immunological correlates of behavioral problems in school-aged children living with HIV in Kayunga, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: HIV can affect the neuropsychological function of children, including their behavior. We aim to identify immunological correlates of behavioral problems among children living with HIV in Uganda. METHODS: Children participating in a parent randomized control trial in Kayunga, Uganda were assessed with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). We constructed simple and multiple linear regression models to identify immunological correlates of behavioral problems. RESULTS: A total of 144 children living with HIV (50% male) with a mean age of 8.9 years [Standard Deviation (s.d.) = 1.9] were included in the analysis. Eighty-two children were on antiretroviral therapy. Mean CD4 cell count % was 35.1 cells/µl (s.d. = 15.0), mean CD4 cell activation 5.7% (s.d. = 5.1), mean CD8 cell activation was 17.5% (s.d. = 11.2) and 60 children (41.7%) had a viral load of <4000 copies/ml. In the adjusted models for the BRIEF, higher scores were associated with higher viral loads (aß = 16.7 × 10-6, 95% CI -5.00 × 10-6 to 28.4 × 10-6), specifically on the behavioral regulation index. Higher mean CD8 activation % was associated with higher scores on the Externalizing Problems  and Total Problems  scales of the CBCL (aß = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04-0.31 and aß = 0.15, 95% CI 0.00-0.28, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Poorer behavioral outcomes were associated with higher viral loads while higher CD8 activation was associated with poorer emotional and behavioral outcomes. Complete immunological assessments for children living with HIV could include commonly used viral and immunological parameters to identify those at higher risk of having negative behavior outcomes and who would benefit the most from behavioral interventions.

Executive function and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Ugandan children with perinatal HIV exposure.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in childhood and is associated with substantial deficits in executive functioning and lost academic and occupational attainment. This study evaluates symptoms of ADHD and their association with neurocognitive deficits in a cohort of rural Ugandan children who were born to HIV-infected mothers. METHODS: We assessed ADHD symptoms and executive function (including memory and attention) in a non-clinical sample of children born to HIV-infected mothers in rural eastern Uganda. Analyses included assessments of the psychometric properties, factor structure, and convergent and discriminant validity of the ADHD measure (ADHD-Rating Scale-IV); and executive function deficits in children meeting symptom criteria for ADHD. RESULTS: 232 children [54% female; mean age 7.8 years (s.d. 2.0)] were assessed for ADHD and executive function deficits. The ADHD measure showed good internal consistency (α = 0.85.) Confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit for the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) two-factor model. Subjects meeting DSM-5 symptom criteria for ADHD had worse parent-rated executive function on six out of seven subscales. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate structural validity of the ADHD measure with this population, strong associations between ADHD symptom severity and poorer executive function, and higher levels of executive function problems in perinatally HIV-exposed Ugandan children with ADHD. These findings suggest that ADHD may be an important neurocognitive disorder associated with executive function problems among children in sub-Saharan African settings where perinatal HIV exposure is common.

Psychological distress among adults admitted to medical and surgical wards of a Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Physical illness is commonly associated with psychological distress that may be a direct effect of the illness or an adjustment in coping with the physical illness or its treatment. Little is known about psychological distress of patients on general wards in developing countries. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the extent and associations of psychological distress among adult in-patients on medical and surgical wards of Mbarara hospital in Uganda. METHODS: It was a cross sectional descriptive study among 258 adult in-patients. The WHO endorsed self report questionnaire (SRQ-25) was used to assess psychological distress with a cut off of 5/6. The MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used to identify specific psychiatric disorders. Cross-tabulations and multivariate analysis was used to analyze the relationship between psychological distress and different factors. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty eight individuals (61%) had psychological distress. One hundred and nine (42%) met criteria for at least one major psychiatric diagnosis. Only 6% of these were recognized by the attending health workers. Psychological distress was significantly associated with previous hospitalizations, ward of admission and marital status. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high level of psychological distress among the physically ill and it is often unrecognized and untreated.

Psychiatric morbidity among physically ill patients in a Ugandan Regional Referral Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Mental illness is a global health burden that remains poorly understood even by health care providers. It is important to get insight of the prevalence, clinical features and management of psychiatric morbidity in general practice in Uganda as it affects treatment outcome. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, types and associations of psychiatric morbidity as seen among adult in-patients on medical and surgical wards of Mbarara Regional Referral hospital as a prototype Ugandan regional referral hospital. METHODS: This was a cross sectional descriptive study. Psychiatric diagnosis was arrived at by administering the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) as the diagnostic instrument. RESULTS: Of the 258 participants in this study, 109 (42%) met criteria for at least one DSM IV psychiatric diagnosis. Only 6% of all the psychiatrically diagnosed patients were recognized by their treating doctors as having mental illness. CONCLUSION: The psychiatric disorders on the general medical and surgical wards are highly prevalent and not recognized by staff on these wards despite their common occurrence. There is need for sensitisation of staff on recognition and management of psychiatric disorders in physical illness.

Benefits and risks of stavudine therapy for HIV-associated neurologic complications in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of HIV dementia in a recent study of HIV+ individuals at the Infectious Disease Institute in Kampala, Uganda, was 31%. Coformulated generic drugs, which include stavudine, are the most common regimens to treat HIV infection in Uganda and many other parts of Africa. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefits and risks of stavudine-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV-associated cognitive impairment and distal sensory neuropathy. The study compared neuropsychological performance changes in HIV+ individuals initiating HAART for 6 months and HIV- individuals receiving no treatment for 6 months. The risk of antiretroviral toxic neuropathy as a result of the initiation of stavudine-based HAART was also examined. METHODS: At baseline, 102 HIV+ individuals in Uganda received neurologic, neuropsychological, and functional assessments; began HAART; and were followed up for 6 months. Twenty-five HIV- individuals received identical clinical assessments and were followed up for 6 months. RESULTS: In HIV+ individuals, there was improvement in verbal memory, motor and psychomotor speed, executive thinking, and verbal fluency. After adjusting for differences in sex, HIV+ individuals demonstrated significant improvement in the Color Trails 2 test (p = 0.025) compared with HIV- individuals. Symptoms of neuropathy developed in 38% of previously asymptomatic HIV+ patients after initiation of the stavudine-based HAART. CONCLUSIONS: After the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) including stavudine, HIV+ individuals with cognitive impairment improve significantly as demonstrated by improved performance on a test of executive function. However, peripheral neurotoxicity occurred in 30 patients, presumably because of stavudine-based HAART, suggesting the need for less toxic therapy.

Frequency of and risk factors for HIV dementia in an HIV clinic in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the frequency and associated risk factors of HIV dementia in an HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: We systematically sampled 78 HIV-seropositive (HIV+) patients from an ambulatory HIV clinic. Participants underwent detailed sociodemographic, medical history, functional, neurologic, and neuropsychological evaluations. One hundred HIV-negative patients were recruited to provide normative data for the neuropsychological tests. A logistic regression model was constructed to determine risk factors associated with the diagnosis of HIV dementia. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent (24 of 78) of the HIV+ patients had HIV dementia. Advanced age and low CD4(+) T-lymphocyte count (CD4 count) were the only variables identified as significant risk factors in the logistic regression model. Each additional 10 years of age conferred a greater than twofold risk of HIV dementia (OR 2.06, 95% CI: 1.05 to 4.07; p < 0.05). Reduced levels of CD4 count (100 cells/muL decrement) was associated with a 60% increase in the odds of having HIV dementia (OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.33; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: HIV dementia is common in HIV-seropositive Ugandan individuals attending an AIDS clinic. It is more frequently associated with patients of advanced age and decreased CD4 count.

Antiretroviral therapy improves cognitive impairment in HIV+ individuals in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can improve cognitive performance in some patients with HIV-associated cognitive impairment in the United States. The effect of HAART on HIV dementia in sub-Saharan Africa is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate neuropsychological test and functional performance in HIV+ individuals after 3 and 6 months of HAART in Uganda. METHODS: Twenty-three HIV+ individuals receiving HAART also received a detailed clinical history, neuropsychological testing, and a functional assessment. Follow-up evaluations were performed at 3 and 6 months after baseline. Longitudinal changes in the HIV dementia stage, the mean Z score for each neuropsychological test, and the Karnofsky Functional Performance Scale were evaluated at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: The mean (SD) CD4 cell count improved from 71 (15) at baseline to 161 (30) at 3 months (p = 0.005) and 222 (46) at 6 months (p < 0.001). Improvements were found in the Memorial Sloan Kettering HIV dementia stage and in tests of verbal memory, psychomotor speed, and executive functioning after 3 and 6 months of HAART (p < 0.001 at 6 months for each neuropsychological test). There was also improvement in the Karnofsky Functional Performance Scale at both 3 and 6 months after the initiation of HAART (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be associated with improvement in neurocognitive and functional performance in HIV+ individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. These results suggest that HAART, if available in areas with limited resources in sub-Saharan Africa, should be provided for patients with HIV-associated cognitive impairment.

Human immunodeficiency virus neurological complications: an overview of the Ugandan experience.

Sub-Saharan Africa, which has about 12% of the global population, is home to almost 70% of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). A recent survey by the Ugandan Ministry of Health has found the HIV prevalence rate to be approximately 7% in sexually active adults. The predominant HIV subtypes present in Uganda are A and D. Health care resources are well planned but often lack human and fiscal resources. Uganda has adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) "3 by 5" global strategy for the introduction of antiretroviral therapy and has surpassed the target. Neurological complications of the HIV virus are common and often have devastating consequences. A recent study in Kampala found the rate of HIV dementia and peripheral neuropathy at 31% and 47%, respectively. Further studies are urgently required to determine the natural history and treatment outcomes of both these common HIV complications.