Chandra N. Corker

Argosy University

HIV, Anxiety and the Impact

of Culture on Mental Health

HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is an immune destroying virus that is acquired through the exchange of blood and other bodily fluids.

Common means of transmission:Unprotected sex (oral sex, vaginal &

anal intercourse)Contaminated needles (sharing of

drug injecting equipment)TransfusionsChildbirth (from infected mom to

baby)Breast milkOrgan transplant

The Numbers

As of 2006,39.5 million individuals worldwide are estimated to be diagnosed with HIV(Brown and Vanable, 2008).o In Botswana, an estimated 11.8

million young people were HIV-positive (Onyewadume, 2008).

Unfortunately 40,000 new cases of HIV will be diagnosed annually in the US alone (Brown and Vanable, 2008).oAfrican Americans account for 50% of

AIDS cases

Mental Health Care: A Necessary Component

Like any illness, the signs and symptoms of a chronic or

terminal illness can be difficult to deal with, causing

depression and anxiety to develop. Mental health care has

been proven to improve quality of life and well-being in

those that are HIV-positive(Shacham, Basta, & Reece, 2007).

A look at three populations will show a difference in cultural

norms but a commonality amongst triggers of mental

distress. a significant proportion reported difficulties coping with

stress (Brown & Vanable, 2008) adjustment challenges contributed to poor disease

management.

Cultural barriers that impact mental health care: mistrust in government

services and medical care

the negative opinion of Americans in regard to psychotherapy

Barriers to seeking mental health care: found to have high levels

of depression with little to no treatment.

mistrust in health care providers

costs of mental health care

lack of treatment options

limited access to providers with in the community

HIV and The African American Population

Cultural barriers that impact mental health care: gender, dating customs

removes power to negotiate intimate relationships o Sex with a virgin cures

HIV/AIDS (Onyewadume, 2008).

myths of God using HIV/AIDS as a form of punishment (Onyewadume, 2008).

The uncontrollability of the male libido (Onyewadume, 2008).

Contributing factors to HIV-positive status: female reproductive

system, tearing of the vaginal lining during intercourse

gender, older men date younger girls (Onyewadume, 2008).

HIV and The African Population

The Burden: Women and children speak up about life with HIV/AIDS

HIV and The Chinese Population

HIV-positive people in China can find

themselves living in hostile

environments that can be dangerous

for themselves and their loved ones.

Psychosocial stressors:

Individualism (Jin, Zhao, Feng & Wu, 2010).

Feelings of fear & helplessness (Jin, Zhao, Feng & Wu, 2010).

Ostracized loved ones (Jin, Zhao, Feng & Wu, 2010).

Job loss (Jin, Zhao, Feng & Wu, 2010).

Loss of independence (Jin, Zhao, Feng & Wu, 2010).

Others negative reaction to their HIV status (Jin, Zhao, Feng & Wu, 2010).

Self-questionnaire to obtain participant demographic information

Psychiatry Epidemiology Research Interview Life Events Scale, designed to measure stressful life events (Pukay-Martin, Cristiani, Saveanu & Bornstein, 2003).

Symptom Check List 90

Instruments used:

Beck, A., McNally, I., & Petrak, J. (2003). Psychosocial predictors of HIV/STI risk behaviors in a sample of homosexual men. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 79 (2), 142-146.

Brown, J. & Vanable, P. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral stress management interventions for persons living with HIV: A review and critique of the literature. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 35, 26-40.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Basic information about HIV and AIDS. Divisions of HIV/AIDS, Viral STD, and TB Prevention. Atlanta, Georgia. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/

Cucciare, M., & Trafton, J.A. (2009). Predicting response to cognitive-behavioral therapy in a sample of HIV-positive with chronic pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32, 340-348.

Fincham, D., Smit, J., Carey, P., Stein, D.J., & Seedat. S. (2008). The relationship between behavioral inhibition, anxiety disorders, depression, depression and cd4 counts in HIV-positive adults: A cross sectional controlled study. AIDS Care, 20(10), 1279-1283.

Haarrasilta, L., Marttunen, M., Kaprio, J., & Aro, H. (2003). Major depressive episode and health care use adolescents and young people. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 38, 366-372.

Jin, C., Zhao, G., Zhang, F., Feng, L., & Wu, N. (2010). The psychological status of HIV-positive people and their psychosocial experiences in eastern China. HIV Medicine, 11, 253-259.

Kraaij, V., Van Der Veek, S.M.C., Garnefski, N., Schroevers, M., Witlox, R., & Maes, S. (2008). Coping, goal adjustment, and psychological well-being in HIV-infected men who have sex with men. AIDS Patient Care and STD’s, 22, 395- 402.

Levy, J. A. (1993). HIV pathogenesis and long-term survival. AIDS. 7(11), 1401-1410.

Monroe, S. M., Slavich, G.M., & Torres, L.D. (2007). Major life events and major chronic difficulties are differentially associated with history of major depressive episodes. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 116 (1), 116-

124.

Onyewadume, M.A. (2008). HIV/AIDS-anxiety among adolescent students in botswana. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 30, 179-188.

Pukay-Martin, N.D., Cristiani, S.A., Saveanu, R., & Bornstein, R. (2003). The relationship between stressful life events and cognitive function in HIV-infected men. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 15(4), 436-441.

References

YouTube. (2009). Because of my status, living with hiv in alexandra township part 2. Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEDLkNpmcLc&feature=related

YouTube. (2011). Stigma undermines china’s hiv/aids fight. Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEDLkNpmcLc&feature=related