Mental Health Interventions among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: A Scoping Review

Background: People who are living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) often face numerous mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety disorders. The objective of this scoping review was to systematically analyse and synthesise the existing literature on mental health interventions available for PLWHA in Nigeria.

Methods: To conduct this review, a comprehensive search of reputable sources including PUBMED, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Hinari, and African Journal Online (AJOL) was performed. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines, a total of 6 studies were identified, spanning from 2007 and 2021, that focused on interventions addressing adverse mental health conditions among PLWHA.

Results: The studies were conducted in three different regions across Nigeria, with the highest number of studies conducted in the South-West region (3), followed by the South East region (2), and the North Central region (1). Among the mental health conditions addressed in these studies, depression was the most prevalent (4 out of 6 studies, or 66.7%), followed by depression co-occurring with other mental health conditions (3 out of 6 studies, or 50%). The most commonly utilised interventions in the reviewed studies were cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and aerobic exercise delivery, each accounting for 33.3% of the interventions. All of the studies reported positive outcomes in terms of participants' mental health. The majority of the studies (83.3%) involved professional counsellors administering the mental health interventions, followed by physiotherapists (33.3%) and psychotherapists (33.3%).

Conclusions: The findings of this review indicate that there is a significantly limited number of implemented interventions addressing the various forms of mental distress experienced by PLWHA, particularly in high prevalence areas of Nigeria. This highlights a crucial research gap and emphasises the need for more interventions that specifically address the mental health needs of PLWHA in Nigeria, taking into consideration the unique challenges and opportunities present in the country.