Mexico is the third Latin American country with the most children and adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (ALHIV). There is a lack of information on the characteristics of this population. We aimed to describe the social and mental health characteristics of Mexican ALHIV. A census was conducted of all adolescent patients with HIV at a pediatric hospital (n = 47; mean age 14.39, S.D. = 3.65) and their caregivers. We collected data on socio-demographic characteristics, family, intelligence, mental health, adverse life events, substance use, treatment, knowledge of Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) and HIV, and biomarkers. Most cases were transmitted vertically and self-reported ART adherence was above 90%. Some obstacles to adherence were medicine discomfort, believing that they did not need it, and forgetfulness. The vulnerabilities were intellectual disability, adverse life events, possible mental health problems, and little knowledge of their illness and treatment. These findings suggest the importance of interventions to improve the perception and knowledge of HIV and ART to increase ART adherence.
AbiodunOJagunOSodeindeK, et al (2022) Socioeconomic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics of adolescents living with HIV in Southwest Nigeria: Implication for preparedness for transition to adult care. AIDS Care34(3): 315–323.
2.
AbubakarAVan de VijverFJRFischerR, et al (2016) ‘Everyone has a secret they keep close to their hearts’: Challenges faced by adolescents living with HIV infection at the Kenyan coast. BMC Public Health16(1): 197.
3.
AdejumoOAMaleeKMRyscavageP, et al (2015) Contemporary issues on the epidemiology and antiretroviral adherence of HIV-infected adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa: A narrative review. Journal of the International Aids Society18(1): 20049.
4.
AgwuALFairlieL (2013) Antiretroviral treatment, management challenges and outcomes in perinatally HIV-infected adolescents. Journal of the International Aids Society16(1): 18579.
5.
AlanizD (2014) Tasa de pérdida en el seguimiento de pacientes VIH positivos en la Clínica Especializada Condesa, Ciudad de México. Factores asociados y consecuencias de la pérdida. MSc Thesis, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México.
6.
AmmonNMasonSCorkeryJM (2018) Factors impacting antiretroviral therapy adherence among human immunodeficiency virus-positive adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. Public Health - Open Journal157: 20–31.
7.
ArnettJJ (2004) Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road From the Late Teens Through the Twenties. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
8.
AshabaSCooper-VinceCMalingS, et al (2018) Internalized HIV stigma, bullying, major depressive disorder, and high-risk suicidality among HIV-positive adolescents in rural Uganda. Global Mental Health5: e22.
9.
Barcelata-EguiarteBMárquez-CaraveoM (2019) Estudios de Validez del Youth Self Report/11-18 en Adolescentes Mexicanos. Revista Iberoamericana de Diagnóstico y Evaluación Psicológica50(4): 107–122.
10.
BenjetCBorgesGMedina-MoraME, et al (2009a) Youth mental health in a populous city of the developing world: Results from the Mexican Adolescent Mental Health Survey. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines50(4): 386–395.
11.
BenjetCBorgesGMedina-MoraME, et al (2009b) Descriptive epidemiology of chronic childhood adversity in Mexican adolescents. The Journal of Adolescent Health45(5): 483–489.
12.
BenjetCBorgesGMedina-MoraME, et al (2009c) Sex differences in the prevalence and severity of psychiatric disorders in adolescents from Mexico City | Diferencias de sexo en la prevalencia y severidad de trastornos psiquiátricos en adolescentes de la Ciudad de México. Salud Mental32(2): 155–163.
13.
BentonTDKee NgWYLeungD, et al (2019) Depression among youth living with HIV/AIDS. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America28(3): 447–459.
14.
BetancourtTScorzaPKanyanganziF, et al (2014) HIV and child mental health: A case-control study in Rwanda. Pediatrics134(2): e464–e472.
15.
BoyesMEBowesLCluverLD, et al (2014) Bullying victimisation, internalising symptoms, and conduct problems in South African children and adolescents: A longitudinal investigation. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology42(8): 1313–1324.
16.
BrittainKMyerLPhillipsN, et al (2019) Behavioural health risks during early adolescence among perinatally HIV-infected South African adolescents and same-age, HIV-uninfected peers. AIDS Care31(1): 131–140.
17.
BrownLKWhiteleyLHarperGW, et al (2015) Psychological symptoms among 2032 youth living with HIV: A multisite study. AIDS Patient Care and STDS29(4): 212–219.
18.
CasaleMCluverLBoyesM, et al (2021) Bullying and ART nonadherence among South African ALHIV: Effects, risks, and protective factors. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes86(4): 436–444.
ChandwaniSKoenigLJSillAM, et al (2012) Predictors of antiretroviral medication adherence among a diverse cohort of adolescents with HIV. The Journal of Adolescent Health51(3): 242–251.
22.
ClabornKRMeierEMillerMB, et al (2015) A systematic review of treatment fatigue among HIV-infected patients prescribed antiretroviral therapy. Psychology Health & Medicine20(3): 255–265.
23.
ConnerLCWienerJLewisJV, et al (2013) Prevalence and predictors of drug use among adolescents with HIV infection acquired perinatally or later in life. AIDS and Behavior17(3): 976–986.
24.
Da CostaPNKendalBCKerrLR, et al. (2020) The south american context of diagnostic disclosure of adolescentes infected by HIV/AIDS: a systematic literature review. Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira66(8): 1139–1145
25.
Dako-GyekeMBoatengAAddomS, et al (2020) Understanding adolescents living with HIV in Accra, Ghana. Children and Youth Services Review108: 104590.
26.
DessauvagieASJörns-PresentatiANappAK, et al (2020) The prevalence of mental health problems in sub-Saharan adolescents living with HIV: A systematic review. Global Mental Health7: 29.
27.
DonenbergGRPaikoffRPequegnatW (2006) Introduction to the special section on families, youth, and HIV: Family-based intervention studies. Journal of Pediatric Psychology31(9): 869–873.
28.
FieldsELBogartLMThurstonIB, et al (2017) Qualitative comparison of barriers to antiretroviral medication adherence among perinatally and behaviorally HIV-infected youth. Qualitative Health Research27(8): 1177–1189.
GrayMENieburgPDillinghamR (2017) Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus continuum of care: A concise review of evidence-based practice. Pediatric Clinics of North America64(4): 879–891.
32.
HudelsonCCluverL (2015) Factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy among adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. AIDS Care27(7): 805–816.
33.
KacanekDAngelidouKWilliamsPL, et al (2015) Psychiatric symptoms and antiretroviral nonadherence in US youth with perinatal HIV: A longitudinal study. AIDS29(10): 1227–1237.
34.
KikuchiKPoudelKCMugandaJ, et al (2012) High risk of ART non-adherence and delay of ART initiation among HIV positive double orphans in Kigali, Rwanda. PLoS One7(7): e41998.
35.
KoenigLJNesheimSAbramowitzS (2011) Adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV: Emerging behavioral and health needs for long-term survivors. Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology23(5): 321–327.
36.
LallPLimSHKhairuddinN, et al (2015) Review: An urgent need for research on factors impacting adherence to and retention in care among HIV-positive youth and adolescents from key populations. Journal of the International Aids Society18(2 Suppl 1): 19393.
37.
LamPKNaar-KingSWrightK (2007) Social support and disclosure as predictors of mental health in HIV-positive youth. AIDS Patient Care and STDS21(1): 20–29.
38.
LambdinBHMicekMASherrK, et al (2013) Integration of HIV care and treatment in primary health care centers and patient retention in central Mozambique: A retrospective cohort study. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes62(5): e146–e152.
39.
LeeSSiberryGKAlarcónJO, et al (2018) Prevalence and associated characteristics of HIV-infected children in Latin America who know their HIV status. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society7(1): 78–81.
40.
LouthrenooOOberdorferPSirisanthanaV (2014) Psychosocial functioning in adolescents with perinatal HIV infection receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC)13(2): 178–183.
41.
LowenthalEDBakeera-KitakaSMarukutiraT, et al (2014) Perinatally acquired HIV infection in adolescents from sub-Saharan Africa: A review of emerging challenges. The Lancet Infectious Diseases14(7): 627–639.
42.
MartinezJChakrabortyR; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Aids (2014) Psychosocial support for youth living with HIV. Pediatrics133(3): 558–562.
43.
MaskewMFoxMPEvansD, et al (2016) Insights into adherence among a cohort of adolescents aged 12-20 years in South Africa: Reported barriers to antiretroviral treatment. AIDS Research and Treatment2016: 4161738.
44.
MellinsCATassiopoulosKMaleeK, et al (2011) Behavioral health risks in perinatally HIV-exposed youth: Co-occurrence of sexual and drug use behavior, mental health problems, and nonadherence to antiretroviral treatment. AIDS Patient Care and STDS25(7): 413–422.
45.
MerzelCVan DevanterNIrvineM (2008) Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among older children and adolescents with HIV: A qualitative study of psychosocial contexts. AIDS Patient Care and STDS22(12): 977–987.
46.
MutumbaMHarperGW (2015) Mental health and support among young key populations: An ecological approach to understanding and intervention. Journal of the International Aids Society18(2 Suppl 1): 19429.
47.
Naar-KingSTemplinTWrightK, et al (2006) Psychosocial factors and medication adherence in HIV-positive youth. AIDS Patient Care and STDS20(1): 44–47.
48.
Nabukeera-BarungiNKalyesubulaIKekitiinwaA, et al (2007) Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in children attending Mulago Hospital, Kampala. Annals of Tropical Paediatrics27(2): 123–131.
49.
NeriaR (2016) Programa psicoeducativo de adherencia al Tratamiento Antirretroviral en personas con diagnóstico reciente por VIH. MSc Thesis, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México.
OrthZVan WykB (2021) A facility-based family support intervention to improve treatment outcomes for adolescents on antiretroviral therapy in the Cape Metropole, South Africa. Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC)20: 23259582211059289.
52.
PaoMLyonMD’AngeloLJ, et al (2000) Psychiatric diagnoses in adolescents seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine154(3): 240–244.
53.
ReifLKAbramsEJArpadiS, et al (2020) Interventions to improve antiretroviral therapy adherence among adolescents and youth in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review 2015-2019. AIDS and Behavior24(10): 2797–2810.
54.
Santos-CruzMLFreimanis-HanceLKorelitzJ, et al (2011) Characteristics of HIV infected adolescents in Latin America: Results from the NISDI pediatric study. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics57(3): 165–172.
55.
ScharkoAM (2006) DSM psychiatric disorders in the context of pediatric HIV/AIDS. AIDS Care18(5): 441–445.
56.
ShubberZMillsEJNachegaJB, et al (2016) Patient-reported barriers to adherence to antiretroviral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Medicine13(11): e1002183.
57.
SpiegelHMFuttermanDC (2009) Adolescents and HIV: Prevention and clinical care. Current HIV/AIDS Reports6(2): 100–107.
58.
TeasdaleCABrittainKZerbeA, et al (2021) Characteristics of adolescents aged 15-19 years living with vertically and horizontally acquired HIV in Nampula, Mozambique. PLoS One16(4): e0250218.
59.
Tiburcio SainzMRosete-MohedanoMGNatera ReyG, et al (2016) Validity and reliability of the alcohol, smoking, and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) in university students | Validez y confiabilidad de la prueba de detección de consumo de alcohol, tabaco y sustancias (ASSIST) en estudiantes universitario. Adicciones28(1): 19–27.
60.
TooEKAbubakarANasambuC, et al (2021) Prevalence and factors associated with common mental disorders in young people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. Journal of the International Aids Society24 Suppl2: e25705.
VreemanRCGramelspacherAMGisorePO, et al (2013) Disclosure of HIV status to children in resource-limited settings: A systematic review. Journal of the International Aids Society16(1): 18466.
64.
VreemanRCMcCoyBMLeeS (2017) Mental health challenges among adolescents living with HIV. Journal of the International Aids Society20(Suppl 3): 21497.
65.
YangEMpheleSMoshashaneN, et al (2018) Distinctive barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence among non-adherent adolescents living with HIV in Botswana. AIDS Care30(2): 224–231.
66.
ZachariahRHarriesADManziM, et al (2006) Acceptance of anti-retroviral therapy among patients infected with HIV and tuberculosis in rural Malawi is low and associated with cost of transport. PLoS One1(1): e121.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
