Depressive symptoms among older adults with HIV in Namibia: the role of social support and spirituality

Background: More than 60% of older adults living with HIV reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Namibia has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. This study examined the association between social support, spirituality and depressive symptoms.Method and results: The sample consisted of 147 Oshiwambo-speaking older adults (mean age = 61 years, SD = 6.92 years) with HIV in Namibia. By utilising a hierarchical multivariate regression method, this study found that social support from friends and spirituality showed a significant negative relationship to depressive symptoms. In addition, self-rated health status and alcohol use were significant sociodemographic predicitive factors of depressive symptoms.Conclusion: This study suggests the need to develop interventions and support programmes that incorporate peer support and spiritual practice to promote health and well-being among older persons living with HIV in Namibia. Keywords: depression, HIV-positive seniors, social aspects, spiritual outloo

Risk and protective factors for depressive symptoms among the youth living with HIV in Namibia

Background: Namibia has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates among young people living with HIV and AIDS. The study of mental well-being among this vulnerable population is emerging as an important area of public healthresearch.Methods: This study examined how gender, social support, food insecurity, HIV-related stigma, HIV treatment adherence and HIV transmission knowledge are related to depressive symptoms among young people living with HIV in rural northern Namibia. Data were collected from 188 participants from the Zambezi region.Results: The hierarchical regression analysis revealed that being a female infected with HIV, having perceived food insecurity, experiencing more HIV-related stigma and having low levels of social support can exacerbate the severity of depressive symptoms in this sample of Namibian youth.Discussion: Our findings point to the need to expand social support interventions, enhance socio-economic programmes and reduce HIV-related stigma among young people living with HIV, especially those residing in rural, HIV endemic, resource-limited communities in developing countries

Cancer of the prostate presenting with diffuse osteolytic metastatic bone lesions: a case report

Abstract Introduction Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the fifth most common cancer worldwide. In the USA it is more common in African-American men than in Caucasian men. Prostate cancer frequently metastasizes to bone and the lesions appear osteoblastic on radiographs. Presentation with diffuse osteolytic bone lesions is rare. We describe an unusual presentation of metastatic prostate cancer with diffuse osteolytic bone lesions. Case presentation A 65-year-old Namibian man presented with anemia, thrombocytopenia and worsening back pains. In addition he had complaints of effort intolerance, palpitations, dysuria and mild symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction. On examination he was found to be anemic, had a swollen tender right shoulder joint and spine tenderness to percussion. On digital rectal examination he had asymmetrical enlargement of the prostate which felt nodular and hard with diffuse firmness in some parts. His prostate-specific antigen was greater than 100ng/mL and he had diffuse osteolytic lesions involving the right humerus, and all vertebral, femur and pelvic bones. His screen for multiple myeloma was negative and the prostate biopsy confirmed prostate cancer. Conclusion Prostate cancer rarely presents with diffuse osteolytic bone lesions and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when evaluating male patients with osteolytic bone lesions.</p