Factors influencing access to mental health services among adolescents and young people living with HIV in Zambia: a qualitative study.

Résumé

BACKGROUND: AYPLHIV understand mental health but face socio-cultural, economic and technological barriers to care. This study suggests that decentralized services, stronger community and peer support and carefully designed mHealth tools-if youth-centered, confidential, affordable and integrated into HIV care-could help improve access and acceptability of mental-health support for young people living with HIV in Zambia and similar settings.METHODS: AYPLHIV understand mental health but face socio-cultural, economic and technological barriers to care. This study suggests that decentralized services, stronger community and peer support and carefully designed mHealth tools-if youth-centered, confidential, affordable and integrated into HIV care-could help improve access and acceptability of mental-health support for young people living with HIV in Zambia and similar settings.RESULTS: AYPLHIV understand mental health but face socio-cultural, economic and technological barriers to care. This study suggests that decentralized services, stronger community and peer support and carefully designed mHealth tools-if youth-centered, confidential, affordable and integrated into HIV care-could help improve access and acceptability of mental-health support for young people living with HIV in Zambia and similar settings.CONCLUSIONS: AYPLHIV understand mental health but face socio-cultural, economic and technological barriers to care. This study suggests that decentralized services, stronger community and peer support and carefully designed mHealth tools-if youth-centered, confidential, affordable and integrated into HIV care-could help improve access and acceptability of mental-health support for young people living with HIV in Zambia and similar settings.