Mental health problems across the HIV care continuum for adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review

Mental health problems (e.g., anxiety, depression) are frequently experienced by adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) and can worsen HIV-related outcomes. This scoping review synthesizes the existing research on ALWHs’ mental health problems at multiple steps along the HIV care continuum in sub-Saharan Africa. Searching PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO identified 34 peer-reviewed studies that met inclusion criteria. Most studies assessed ALWHs’ mental health problems at the “Engaged or Retained in Care” continuum step, are cross-sectional, focus on depression and anxiety, and used measures developed in high-income countries. Studies identify mental health problems among ALWH as prevalent and barriers to care. Significant gaps remain in understanding how mental health problems and their relationships with HIV-related health outcomes shift across the continuum. Additional attention is needed, especially at the HIV testing and viral suppression steps, to generate a more comprehensive understanding of mental health needs and priority timepoints for intervention for ALWH.

• Population(s)
  • Children or Youth (less than 18 years old)
  • General HIV+ population
  • General HIV- population
• Prevention, Engagement and Care Cascade
  • Engagement and Care Cascade
• Engagement and Care Cascade
  • Linkage/engagement in care
  • Retention in care
  • Treatment
• Testing
  • Testing
• Mental Health
  • Depression
  • Other