Examining Caregivers’ Mental Health Impact on Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties of AIDS Orphaned Adolescents: A Hierarchical Regression Analysis

Although studies have documented the relationship between caregiver-level factors, such as education level, age, and employment and emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBDs) among adolescents living with HIV, the impact of caregiver mental health on EBDs among orphaned adolescents is rarely investigated. Therefore, this study explores the impact of caregivers’ mental health and other factors on orphaned adolescents’ EBDs.

We analyzed baseline data from the Suubi-Maka (hope for families) cluster randomized trial among orphaned adolescents (ages 12 to 16 years) in southern Uganda. We fitted separate hierarchical regression models to evaluate the incremental effect of individual, household, and caregiver-level factors on adolescent EBDs, measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Study participants had average total difficulties score of 51.16 ± 9.24, indicative of overall high level of EBDs. Higher caregivers’ mental health scores were associated with child EBDs (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.19, p < 0.001). Similarly, adolescents’ female gender was associated with child EBDs (β = 3.62, 95% CI: 0.58 to 6.67, p = 0.025).

This study highlights the crucial influence of caregivers’ mental health on the wellbeing of HIV/AIDS orphaned adolescents and underscores the importance of gender-sensitive interventions for them.