Examines the impact of social protection on mental distress from violence in adolescent girls living with HIV, suggesting urgent intervention needs.
Key Points
This research aims to explore the effect of social protection on the relationship between violence exposure and mental health distress in AGYW living with HIV.
Analyzed data from the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) involving 1,006 AGYW aged 15-24 from Eswatini, Lesotho, and Namibia.
Measured mental distress using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6).
Assessed the impact of lifetime experiences of violence and access to social protection.
Sexual violence was associated with increased mental distress (aOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.13-2.99, p = 0.014).
Physical violence showed a similar effect (aOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.18-3.23, p = 0.010).
Social protection did not provide a significant protective effect against mental distress (aOR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.41-1.03; p = 0.067).