Multi-informant Perspective on Psychological Distress among Ghanaian Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) within the Context of HIV/AIDS

There is little knowledge about the psychosocial distress of children affected by HIV/AIDS in Ghana, to aid planning of services. This study investigated mental health problems among children affected by HIV/AIDS in Ghana, compared to control groups of children orphaned by other causes, and non-orphans. It employed a cross-sectional survey that interviewed 291 children and their caregivers on their psychosocial wellbeing using standardized scales. The results indicated that controlling for relevant socio-demographic factors both children’s self-reports and caregivers reports indicate that both children living with HIV/AIDS-infected caregivers and children orphaned by AIDS were at heightened risk for mental health problems than both children orphaned by other causes and non-orphans. The findings further indicated that significant proportion of orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) exhibited symptoms for depression and other psychiatric disorders (approximately 63%) compared with 7% among the non-orphaned group. Caregivers gave higher ratings for children on externalizing problems and lower on internalizing problems, and vice versa when the children’s self-reports were analyzed. These findings suggest that both children and their informants have diverse yet complementary perspectives on psychological outcomes. The study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of these findings andurgently called for necessary intervention programs that targets all children affected by HIV/AIDS to effectively alleviate psychological distress and enhance the mental health of these children.