Prevalence and patterns of Psychiatric disorder in HIV infected Children aged 10-15 years at Kenyatta national hospital

Abstract

Psychiatricdisorders frequently occur in mv infected patients. Multiple factors are associatedwith psychiatric disorders including substance abuse, poverty; side effects of antiretroviral drugs and HIV disease. Psychiatric disorders affect the well-being of the HIV infected individuals and may result in poor adherence to medication. Objectives To determine prevalence, pattern and correlates of psychiatric disorders In HIV infectedadolescents aged 10-15 yrs at Kenyatta National Hospital. Study Methods This was a cross sectional study conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital Comprehensive Care Centre (CCC) from January to June 2009. Care givers and children recruited into the study were interviewed using a modified Kiddie-SAD tool and scored for psychiatric disorders. HIV clinical information was obtained from the medical records. Factors associated with psychiatric disorders were analyzed using the chi square test and odds ratio and p values computed. Results The study enrolled 94 adolescents who were predominantly male 51 (54%). The median age of the study participants was 13 years (range 10- 15 years) .The prevalence of psychiatric disorder was 55.3%. The commonest psychiatric disorders were anxiety disorder (26%) and post traumatic stress disorder (17%). There was a trend towards children with CD4 <200 having a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders OR 2.5, 95% CI 0.9-6.4 (p=0.06). IX COlllellllsioD ental disorders are a common among adolescents at the KNH CCC and need to be addressed both from the human resource and management point of view. eeommendations The number of trained counselors in the CCC should be increased to facilitate early detection and management of psychiatric disorders.