Prevalence and Factors Related to Depression among Adolescents Living with HIV/AIDS, in Gasabo District, Rwanda

Background Adolescents living with HIV are vulnerable to depression with a negative effect on treatment outcomes. However, there are little data on the factors associated with depression in adolescents with HIV infection in Rwanda.   Aim This article aims to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic factors related to depression among adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. Methodology  A cross sectional research was conducted with 102 adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. Depression was measured by Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-DC) in its latest version adapted to the context of Rwanda. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were performed to determine the factors associated with depression. Results  The prevalence of participants who had symptoms of depression was 31%. The risk to develop depression increased among HIV infected adolescent who did not attend school or who lived with another person who is not a parent or family member. Having both parents deceased increases the risk to develop depression by 25.07 times compared to when none of them is deceased. Conclusion  The results have demonstrated that lack of social support is likely to raise the risk of development of depression symptoms among adolescent with HIV. It is clearly an urgent priority to implement programs that focus on provision and maintenance of psychosocial support to this group in order to reverse the situation. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2021;4(1):37-5

Patients’ Experiences of Seclusion during Admission in Psychiatric Settings in KwaZulu-Natal: A Qualitative Study

Background In South Africa, seclusion is one of the practices used in the management of disruptive behaviors in psychiatric settings. Despite its continued use, seclusion is always subject to controversial debates, and patients who undergo it express a range of negative experiences. Objective To explore the experiences of patients regarding seclusion during their admission in a psychiatric hospital. Methods A qualitative descriptive design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten patients attending a community psychiatric clinic in KwaZulu-Natal. Interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Results Two themes emerged from the findings: controversial views of seclusion and negative experiences of seclusion. Seclusion was considered more as a punishment measure which was often used abusively, than a therapeutic intervention. Participants expressed loneliness, humiliation, and powerlessness following their seclusion experience. Limited patient-staff interaction and communication worsened patients’ negativity towards seclusion. Conclusion Findings from this study underscore the need to review practices, policies and procedures regarding the use of seclusion. Seclusion should be only used when the need is absolute and as the last treatment option. Open communication between the care providers and the patients should be emphasized during the time of seclusion. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2020;3(3):342-36