Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use and Associated Factors among HIV Infected Children and Adolescents Seeking Mental Health Services in Uganda.

Background: Given the limited integration of mental health services into pediatric HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited information on the nature of mental health service use sought by caregivers of children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS.

Methods: We analyzed data from a sample of 135 children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS and attending a pediatric HIV care service whose parents or caregivers had sought for mental health care for their emotional or behavior problems in the past year. We assessed complementary alternative medicine use, socio-demographic characteristics and types of behavioral problems using a SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC questionnaire and the child behavioral checklist (6 - 18) respectively. Logistic regression models were used to explore factors independently associated with specific patterns of mental health service use.

Results: Of 135 parents/caregivers interviewed, 38 (28.15%) sought mental health care from only complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers (traditional or faith healers), 38 (28.15%) from only conventional medical providers (general physicians, general nurses, psychiatrists or HIV counselors) and 59 (43.70%) sought care from both). Severe HIV disease in the young children [PRR = 2.09, 95%CI = 1.36 to 3.2, p-value = 0.001] and thought problems [PRR 1.26, 95%CI = 0.81 to 1.72, p-value = 0.04] in adolescents were independently associated with complementary and alternative medicine use.

Conclusion: Caregivers of children and adolescents with progressive HIV disease and thought problems were more likely to seek mental health services from complementary and alternative medicine providers.