Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41662005›Full record

ArticlePLOS mental health2025

An exploratory qualitative pilot study assessing treatment-seeking behavior for generalized anxiety symptoms among people living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

Frank Kiwango, Carl Mhina, Lyidia Vedasto Masika, Editruda Gamassa, Florian Emanuel Ghaimo, Neema Allen Ng'unda, Nyasatu G Chamba, Charles Muiruri, John Bartlett, James S Ngocho and 1 more

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Article in PLOS mental health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Frank KiwangoDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9415-0664
Carl MhinaKilimanjaro College of Health and Allied Sciences, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Lyidia Vedasto MasikaKilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Editruda GamassaDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3324-1965
Florian Emanuel GhaimoSchool of Medicine, KCMC University, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4324-6468
Neema Allen Ng'undaSchool of Medicine, KCMC University, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0966-3869
Nyasatu G ChambaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9390-3393
Charles MuiruriDepartment of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
John BartlettDuke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
James S NgochoSchool of Public Health, KCMC University, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Blandina T MmbagaSchool of Medicine, KCMC University, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are more likely to experience significant generalized anxiety symptoms compared to the general population, which require both pharmacological and psychological treatment. There is limited evidence on the specific facilitators and barriers to treatment-seeking behaviours for significant generalized anxiety symptoms among PLWHA in Kilimanjaro region. This study aims to determine facilitators and barriers to treatment-seeking behaviours for significant generalized anxiety symptoms among PLWHA in Kilimanjaro region. This exploratory pilot study employed a qualitative design to assess facilitators and barriers to treatment-seeking for generalized anxiety symptoms among PLWHA in Kilimanjaro region and used the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screener to identify significant generalized anxiety symptoms in adult PLWHA who were followed up for three months. Thematic framework analysis was employed to identify and interpret patterns in treatment-seeking behaviors. Among 348 PLWHA, only 8.6% (30 PLWHA) had screened positive for significant generalized anxiety symptoms. Among 30 with significant anxiety symptoms, 6 (20%) PLWHA attended mental health services, 15 (50%) PLWHA did not attend, and 9 (30%) PLWHA were lost to follow-up. Facilitators identified were having mental health awareness, support from family and friends, and having good customer service in mental health clinics. Economic burdens, few mental health services, and stigma were potential barriers to treatment seeking for significant generalized anxiety symptoms. Addressing both facilitators and barriers to treatment-seeking for significant generalized anxiety symptoms among PLWHA, including increasing awareness, reducing stigma, improving access to services, and providing strong social support, is essential for enhancing mental health care.

Identifiers

PMID41662005
PMCPMC12798625

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.