Self-harm in young people with perinatal HIV and HIV negative young people in England: Cross sectional analysis

Julie Copelyn, Lindsay C. Thompson, M. Le Prevost, Hannah Castro, K. Sturgeon, Katie Rowson, Susie Brice, Caroline Foster, D.M. Gibb, Ali Judd, S. Brice, A. Judd, M. Le Prevost, A. Mudd, F. Parrott, K. Rowson, K. Sturgeon, M. Conway, K. Doerholt, D. DunnC. Foster, D.M. Gibb, S. Kinloch, N. Klein, H. Lyall, D. Melvin, K. Prime, C. Sabin, M. Sharland, C. Thorne, P. Tookey, C. Diaz Montana, K. Fairbrother, M. Rauchenberger, N. Tappenden, S. Townsend, D.M. Gibb, D. Mercey, F. Boag, P. Seery, M. Clapson, V. Noveli, A. Callaghan, E. Menson, A. Walley, E. Cheserem, E. Hamlyn, R. Gilson, T. Peake, S. Liebeschuetz, J. Daniels, T. Fernandez, S. Kinlock De Loes, S. Storey, S. Paulus, A. Riordan, J. Daglish, C. Robertson, J. Bernatonlene, L. Hutchinson, M. Gompel, L. Jennings, M. Dowie, S. O'Riordan, W. Ausalut, S. Bandi, P. McMaster, C. Murphy, M. Chaponda, S. Paulus, C. Dufton, B. Oliver, J. Marsh, I. Clowes, M. Kiwanuka, B. Chipalo, Ali Judd

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Self-harm in adolescents is of growing concern internationally but limited evidence exists on the prevalence of self-harm in those living with HIV, who may be at higher risk of poor mental health outcomes. Therefore our aim was to determine the prevalence and predictors of self-harm among young people with perinatally-acquired HIV (PHIV) and HIV negative (with sibling or mother living with HIV) young people living in England. Methods: 303 PHIV and 100 HIV negative young people (aged 12-23 years) participating in the Adolescents and Adults Living with Perinatal HIV cohort study completed an anonymous self-harm questionnaire, as well as a number of standardised mental-health assessments. Logistic regression investigated predictors of self-harm. Results: The median age was 16.7 years in both groups, and 40.9% of the PHIV and 31.0% of the HIV negative groups were male. In total 13.9% (56/403) reported having ever self-harmed, with no difference by HIV status (p = 0.089). Multivariable predictors of self-harm were female sex (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.3, (95% confidence interval 1.9, 14.1), p = 0.001), lower self-esteem (AOR 0.9 (0.8, 0.9) per 1 point increase, p < 0.001) and having ever used alcohol (AOR 3.8 (1.8, 7.8), p < 0.001). Self-esteem z-scores for both PHIV and HIV negative participants were 1.9 standard deviations below the mean for population norms. Conclusions: Self-harm is common among PHIV and HIV negative adolescents in England. Reassuringly however, they do not appear to be at an increased risk compared to the general adolescent population (15-19% lifetime prevalence). The low level of self-esteem (compared to available normative data) in both groups is worrying and warrants further attention.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1165
JournalBMC Public Health
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Aug 2019
Externally publishedYes

Funding

The Monument Trust and PENTA Foundation. This work was supported by the Medical Research Council programme grant MC_UU_12023/26 awarded to the MRC Clinical Trials Unit. The funding sources had no role in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the report or decision to submit the paper for publication.

FundersFunder number
Medical Research CouncilMC_UU_12023/17, MC_UU_12023/26
Medical Research Council

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