17 non-suppressing CLHIV patients aged 10 to 17 years who were disclosed were placed on post-disclosure monitoring.
The findings of the post-disclosure monitoring revealed that adolescents are experiencing distress and stress. During the post-disclosure monitoring, “Namugerwa Shamim, a 12-year-old (0013 HH Code) (2141 VL copies) from Bukango S/C, Bukango Parish, Kawoko Village, opened up to the social worker, “Ever since my mother disclosed my HIV status to my class teacher, my life changed, and this made me hate school.
My teacher would make me sit alone on the desk, claiming that I would infect other children with HIV.” This statement made me cry all day at school, which is why I decided never to return, despite the fact that she was the only one enrolled out of the seven children in the household. Shamim currently cries whenever someone mentions enrolling her in another school. However, additional education and PSS counseling, as well as treatment literacy, have been provided. She says she’ll go later, but she prefers a school that’s far away because she assumes everyone in the community is aware of her situation.
Using the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) as a screening tool, 615 (304F, 311M) CLHIV aged 10-17 years were assessed for mental health during the quarter. These include 42 from Kalungu, 126 from Kalangala, 24 from Bukomansimbi, 16 from Sembabule, 362 from Mpigi, 22 from Masaka district, and 23 from Masaka city. According to the analysis, 604 CLHIV scored less than 7, indicating normal psychological functioning, and they were only given adherence counselling and psychological support.
However, 11 scored higher than 7 and reported psychological distress, and they were given individual counselling sessions in the form of mental health psychosocial support as a first-aid response to their mental distress. Furthermore, (1) CLHIV that presented severe psychosocial distress was referred to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for further management (pharmacological interventions). For example, “Peter, a 10 year old non-suppressor from Bukomansimbi district who scored 13 during home-based mental health screening using SRQ-20 that presented issues related to depression, being unruly, uncontrollable, destroying everything when punished, dropped out of school because of
However, after being referred by MDMS to Buyoga H/CIII and Masaka Children’s Clinic in Masaka, with support from the Know Your Child model/friend, Peter was diagnosed with epilepsy and a mental disorder that caused him to be violent most of the time.” However, Peter is currently on medication and is assigned to a nearby PSW for daily follow-up and adherence support.