Depression Among AIDS-orphaned Children Higher Than Among Other Orphaned Children in Southern India

In order to truly understand the state of mental health amongst HIV-infected students in India, it is important to review literature that presents a comparative study. The article that we read provides a comparative study between AIDS- orphaned children and other Orphaned children in Southern India. This article was written by SG Prem Kumar, Rakhi Dandona, G Anil Kumar, SP Ramgopal, and Lalit Dandona This allows us to understand exactly why the rates for depression and anxiety are significantly higher for children with HIV/AIDS and how this affects the already worsened condition of bullying, social discrimination, stigma as well as poor optimism for the future.

Orphaned children, even without any physical illness, tend to face extreme difficulty from the loss of one or more parents, as it limits their access to basic social services and undermines their chances of survival and future. In addition to this, if they are faced with the herculean task of having to survive and grow with illnesses like HIV/AIDS, it causes an immense burden on the children and any caregivers they have. Thereby, it is important for government interventions to create a positive environment filled with resources and opportunities in order to facilitate their growth and development and thereby secure an optimistic, hopeful and stable future. As per the estimates of UNICEF, there may be about five million children affected with HIV in India, and it is yet on the rise. While Snehagram specifically focuses on children with HIV, it is also important to draft the mental health effects on children with AIDS.

The methodology for the study included the following criteria: Data for this study were collected from January to March 2012 in 14 orphanages in and around Hyderabad city in southern India. Ethics approval for this study was provided by the Human Ethics committee of the Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi. Provision was made for referral to a psychologist in the event of distress resulting from interviews for children who participated in this study. Furthermore, the history of abuse and violence was also recorded in order to understand the repercussions on the mental health of the children.

It was found that children orphaned with HIV or AIDS had significantly higher symptoms of depression and anxiety due to higher stigma, social discrimination as well as neglect, and thus would require a lot more mental health intervention, which could include preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.

Kumar, S. P., Dandona, R., Kumar, G. A.,Ramgopal, S., & Dandona, L. (2014). Depression among AIDS-orphaned children higher than among other orphaned children in southern India. International journal of mental health systems, 8, 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-8-13

- Aman Kuman & Anushka Santosh,
CHRIST (Deemed to be University)

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