Melanie Abas
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 1561858 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Melanie Abas |
| PRENOMES | Melanie |
| SOBRENOME | Abas |
| ASSINATURA | ABAS M |
| AFILIAÇÕES | King's College London |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1716-5584 |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 28 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 69 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 28 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2010 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 3 |
Trauma-related experiences among people living with HIV in Zimbabwe
Contextual factors shape trauma experiences of people living with HIV in Zimbabwe • Strong family and community ties and chronic stress environments influence these experiences • Local idioms (“thinking too much”) capture a range of trauma sequelae • Depression-focused interventions were generally well received by participants • Chronic stress and avoidance tendencies may need added focus to optimise care
Recognition of depression by nurses in primary healthcare in Zimbabwe
Depression is underrecognized in primary care, which is a barrier to treatment. For the last decade, Zimbabwe has invested in increasing access to depression treatment within primary healthcare. This study describes depression recognition by nurses and referral to treatment in four primary care clinics in Zimbabwe. Research staff screened 200 patients after they attended a primary care visit at a study clinic. They assessed depression using the P…
The Syndemic Effects of Food Insecurity, Depression, and Gender-Based Violence on HIV Treatment Outcomes Among People with HIV in Zimbabwe
Development and preliminary inter-rater reliability of the new PROOF tool to measure fidelity of problem-solving therapy for depression delivered by non-specialists in a low-resource African setting
Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a brief psychological intervention often implemented for depression. Currently, there are no tools with well-evidenced reliability to measure PST fidelity. This pilot study aimed to measure the inter-rater reliability and agreement of the Pro blem-S o lving Therapy F idelity (PROOF) scale, comprising binary 14-item adherence and an 8-item competence subscales. Transcripts were from the TENDAI trial, a Zimbabwe-bas…
Effect of a brief psychological intervention for common mental disorders on HIV viral suppression
Background For people living with co-morbid HIV and common mental disorders (CMD), it is not known whether a brief psychological intervention for CMD can improve HIV viral suppression. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study in eight primary care clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe, enrolling adults with co-morbid HIV and CMD. Six clinics provided the Friendship Bench (FB), a brief psychological intervention for CMD based on problem-solving thera…
“What if I got rejected by the girl? I would rather stop the pills”
Emerging adults aged 18-29 have high rates of viral non-suppression, and poorer adherence to ART when compared to older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 emerging adults in Zimbabwe who had a recent history of viral non-suppression, to explore barriers and facilitators of adherence to ART. Interviews were coded using inductive thematic analysis. The mean age of participants was 23, 65% were male, and 79% reported acquiring…
Rural Friendship Bench
Reliability and validity of the Shona version of the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale in Zimbabwean adult people living with HIV/Aids
This study demonstrates the validity and reliability of the EBBS-Shona version in Zimbabwean PLHIV. The EBBS-Shona version can be used for research and clinical purposes to glean data to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of bespoke PA interventions for PLHIV
Developing sustainable capacity-building in mental health research
Less than 1% of biomedical research papers originate in Africa. Locally relevant mental health research, including synthesis of existing evidence, is essential for developing interventions and strengthening health systems, but institutions may lack the capacity to deliver training on systematic reviewing for publication in international journals. This paper describes the development and implementation of a training-of-trainers (ToT) course on sys…
How can we achieve person-centred care for people living with HIV/Aids? A qualitative interview study with healthcare professionals and patients in Ghana
Although person-centred care (PCC) has been identified as a means to achieve the 90-90-90 targets, limited research has considered PCC in low- or middle-income settings. We aimed to explore what constitutes PCC from the perspectives of PLWHA and healthcare professionals (HCP) in Ghana. We conducted 39 semi-structured qualitative interviews with PLWHA and HCP in two community clinics in Ghana, West Africa. Interviews were analysed deductively usin…
Phase II mixed methods’ feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of a novel community-based enhanced care intervention to improve person-centred outcomes for people living with HIV in Ghana
Person-centred care (PCC) for people living with HIV (PLWH) is a global goal for WHO and the UNAIDS strategy. We aimed to develop a novel person-centred intervention for community providers, test the feasibility of participant recruitment and retention, intervention delivery and to establish acceptability. Findings from qualitative interviews with PLWH and healthcare professionals were mapped onto a PCC theory in an expert intervention developmen…
Mental health research capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa
Mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders are a leading, but neglected, cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The treatment gap for MNS is vast with only 10% of people with MNS disorders in low-income countries accessing evidence-based treatments. Reasons for this include low awareness of the burden of MNS disorders and limited evidence to support development, adaptation and implementation of effective and feasible …
The relationship between intimate partner violence and probable depression among adolescent girls and young women in Lilongwe, Malawi
This analysis estimates prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with probable depression among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Lilongwe, Malawi, and whether partner's controlling behaviour modifies this relationship. Baseline data was utilised from the Girl Power-Malawi study of 1000 15-24-year-old AGYW in Lilongwe. Emotional, physical, and sexual IPV experiences with a current or recent partner were measured …
Positioning for success
This paper indicates that a skills development series for early-career researchers can be contextualised and implemented in LMIC settings, and is feasible for co-delivery with local partners at relatively low cost
Trained lay health workers reduce common mental disorder symptoms of adults with suicidal ideation in Zimbabwe
pactr.org ldentifier: PACTR201410000876178
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Task-Shifted Intervention to Enhance Adherence to HIV Medication and Improve Depression in People Living with HIV in Zimbabwe, a Low Income Country in Sub-Saharan Af…
Using a pilot trial design in an HIV care clinic in Zimbabwe, we randomised 32 adults with poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy and at least mild depression to either six sessions of Problem-Solving Therapy for adherence and depression (PST-AD) delivered by an adherence counsellor, or to Enhanced Usual Care (Control). Acceptability of PST-AD was high, as indicated by frequency of session attendance and through qualitative analyses of exit int…
Cultural adaptation of a cognitive-behavioural intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe
Few evidence-based interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy have been adapted for use in Africa. We selected, culturally adapted and tested the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioural intervention for adherence and for delivery in a clinic setting in Harare, Zimbabwe. The feasibility of the intervention was evaluated using a mixed-methods assessment, including ratings of provider fidelity of intervention delivery, and qualitati…
Effect of a Primary Care–Based Psychological Intervention on Symptoms of Common Mental Disorders in Zimbabwe
Importance: Depression and anxiety are common mental disorders globally but are rarely recognized or treated in low-income settings. Task-shifting of mental health care to lay health workers (LHWs) might decrease the treatment gap. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally adapted psychological intervention for common mental disorders delivered by LHWs in primary care. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cluster randomized clinical …
Pathways to HIV testing and care in Goa, India
The effectiveness of formal and informal systems of support around the time of diagnosis in supporting people with mental disorder is unclear. Ways of enhancing these systems should be explored, with the aim of achieving timely presentation at HIV care for all those diagnosed with the disease
Memory and the Reporting of Remittance in a Sample of Elderly Persons in Thailand
Human Trafficking and Health
Objectives. To investigate physical and mental health and experiences of violence among male and female trafficking survivors in a high-income country. Methods. Our data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 150 men and women in England who were in contact with posttrafficking support services. Interviews took place over 18 months, from June 2013 to December 2014. Results. Participants had been trafficked for sexual exploitation (29%), do…
Lay Health Workers’ Experience of Delivering a Problem Solving Therapy Intervention for Common Mental Disorders Among People Living with HIV
The effect of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among rural Thai elders
Evidence on the link between income inequality and alcohol-related problems is scarce, inconclusive and dominated by studies from the developed world. The use of income as a proxy measure for wealth is also questionable, particularly in developing countries. The goal of the present study is to explore the contextual influence of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among Thai older adults. A population-based cohort study with a one-y…
Symptoms of common mental disorder and cognitive associations with seropositivity among a cohort of people coming for testing for HIV/Aids in Goa, India
Our findings provide tentative evidence to suggest that low cognitive test scores (and possibly depressive symptoms) may be associated with HIV status among people who have yet to receive their HIV test results. Impaired cognitive functioning and depression-like symptoms may be the result of the same underlying neurological damage. CMD and cognitive impairment may overlap to a greater extent than previously assumed. If replicated, this may have i…
Problem-solving therapy for depression and common mental disorders in Zimbabwe
ISRCTN: ISRCTN25476759
The Relationship of Trauma to Mental Disorders Among Trafficked and Sexually Exploited Girls and Women
Objectives. We explored the association between traumatic events and mental health among girls and women trafficked for sexual exploitation. Methods. We used subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory and Harvard Trauma Questionnaire to interview 204 trafficked girls and women in 7 posttrafficking service settings. Multivariate logistic regression models based on interview data were fitted for depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder …
Human Trafficking and Health
Objectives. To investigate physical and mental health and experiences of violence among male and female trafficking survivors in a high-income country. Methods. Our data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 150 men and women in England who were in contact with posttrafficking support services. Interviews took place over 18 months, from June 2013 to December 2014. Results. Participants had been trafficked for sexual exploitation (29%), do…
Lay Health Workers’ Experience of Delivering a Problem Solving Therapy Intervention for Common Mental Disorders Among People Living with HIV
Cultural adaptation of a cognitive-behavioural intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe
Few evidence-based interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy have been adapted for use in Africa. We selected, culturally adapted and tested the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioural intervention for adherence and for delivery in a clinic setting in Harare, Zimbabwe. The feasibility of the intervention was evaluated using a mixed-methods assessment, including ratings of provider fidelity of intervention delivery, and qualitati…
The effect of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among rural Thai elders
Evidence on the link between income inequality and alcohol-related problems is scarce, inconclusive and dominated by studies from the developed world. The use of income as a proxy measure for wealth is also questionable, particularly in developing countries. The goal of the present study is to explore the contextual influence of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among Thai older adults. A population-based cohort study with a one-y…
The Relationship of Trauma to Mental Disorders Among Trafficked and Sexually Exploited Girls and Women
Objectives. We explored the association between traumatic events and mental health among girls and women trafficked for sexual exploitation. Methods. We used subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory and Harvard Trauma Questionnaire to interview 204 trafficked girls and women in 7 posttrafficking service settings. Multivariate logistic regression models based on interview data were fitted for depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder …
Problem-solving therapy for depression and common mental disorders in Zimbabwe
ISRCTN: ISRCTN25476759
Women in post-trafficking services in moldova
Trafficked women returning to their country of origin are likely to suffer serious psychological distress that may endure well beyond the time they return. Women found to have co-morbid PTSD or other forms of anxiety and depression immediately post-return should be offered evidenced-based mental health treatment for at least the standard 12-month period of rehabilitation
Rural–Urban Migration and Experience of Childhood Abuse in the Young Thai Population
Evidence suggests that certain migrant populations are at increased risk of abusive behaviors. It is unclear whether this may also apply to Thai rural–urban migrants, who may experience higher levels of psychosocial adversities than the population at large. The study aims to examine the association between migration status and the history of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse among young Thai people in an urban community. A populatio…
Symptoms of common mental disorder and cognitive associations with seropositivity among a cohort of people coming for testing for HIV/Aids in Goa, India
Our findings provide tentative evidence to suggest that low cognitive test scores (and possibly depressive symptoms) may be associated with HIV status among people who have yet to receive their HIV test results. Impaired cognitive functioning and depression-like symptoms may be the result of the same underlying neurological damage. CMD and cognitive impairment may overlap to a greater extent than previously assumed. If replicated, this may have i…
The effect of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among rural Thai elders
Evidence on the link between income inequality and alcohol-related problems is scarce, inconclusive and dominated by studies from the developed world. The use of income as a proxy measure for wealth is also questionable, particularly in developing countries. The goal of the present study is to explore the contextual influence of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among Thai older adults. A population-based cohort study with a one-y…
Effect of a Primary Care–Based Psychological Intervention on Symptoms of Common Mental Disorders in Zimbabwe
Importance: Depression and anxiety are common mental disorders globally but are rarely recognized or treated in low-income settings. Task-shifting of mental health care to lay health workers (LHWs) might decrease the treatment gap. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally adapted psychological intervention for common mental disorders delivered by LHWs in primary care. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cluster randomized clinical …
Pathways to HIV testing and care in Goa, India
The effectiveness of formal and informal systems of support around the time of diagnosis in supporting people with mental disorder is unclear. Ways of enhancing these systems should be explored, with the aim of achieving timely presentation at HIV care for all those diagnosed with the disease
Memory and the Reporting of Remittance in a Sample of Elderly Persons in Thailand
Human Trafficking and Health
Objectives. To investigate physical and mental health and experiences of violence among male and female trafficking survivors in a high-income country. Methods. Our data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 150 men and women in England who were in contact with posttrafficking support services. Interviews took place over 18 months, from June 2013 to December 2014. Results. Participants had been trafficked for sexual exploitation (29%), do…
Lay Health Workers’ Experience of Delivering a Problem Solving Therapy Intervention for Common Mental Disorders Among People Living with HIV
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Task-Shifted Intervention to Enhance Adherence to HIV Medication and Improve Depression in People Living with HIV in Zimbabwe, a Low Income Country in Sub-Saharan Af…
Using a pilot trial design in an HIV care clinic in Zimbabwe, we randomised 32 adults with poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy and at least mild depression to either six sessions of Problem-Solving Therapy for adherence and depression (PST-AD) delivered by an adherence counsellor, or to Enhanced Usual Care (Control). Acceptability of PST-AD was high, as indicated by frequency of session attendance and through qualitative analyses of exit int…
Cultural adaptation of a cognitive-behavioural intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe
Few evidence-based interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy have been adapted for use in Africa. We selected, culturally adapted and tested the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioural intervention for adherence and for delivery in a clinic setting in Harare, Zimbabwe. The feasibility of the intervention was evaluated using a mixed-methods assessment, including ratings of provider fidelity of intervention delivery, and qualitati…
Trained lay health workers reduce common mental disorder symptoms of adults with suicidal ideation in Zimbabwe
pactr.org ldentifier: PACTR201410000876178
Positioning for success
This paper indicates that a skills development series for early-career researchers can be contextualised and implemented in LMIC settings, and is feasible for co-delivery with local partners at relatively low cost
Developing sustainable capacity-building in mental health research
Less than 1% of biomedical research papers originate in Africa. Locally relevant mental health research, including synthesis of existing evidence, is essential for developing interventions and strengthening health systems, but institutions may lack the capacity to deliver training on systematic reviewing for publication in international journals. This paper describes the development and implementation of a training-of-trainers (ToT) course on sys…
How can we achieve person-centred care for people living with HIV/Aids? A qualitative interview study with healthcare professionals and patients in Ghana
Although person-centred care (PCC) has been identified as a means to achieve the 90-90-90 targets, limited research has considered PCC in low- or middle-income settings. We aimed to explore what constitutes PCC from the perspectives of PLWHA and healthcare professionals (HCP) in Ghana. We conducted 39 semi-structured qualitative interviews with PLWHA and HCP in two community clinics in Ghana, West Africa. Interviews were analysed deductively usin…
Phase II mixed methods’ feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of a novel community-based enhanced care intervention to improve person-centred outcomes for people living with HIV in Ghana
Person-centred care (PCC) for people living with HIV (PLWH) is a global goal for WHO and the UNAIDS strategy. We aimed to develop a novel person-centred intervention for community providers, test the feasibility of participant recruitment and retention, intervention delivery and to establish acceptability. Findings from qualitative interviews with PLWH and healthcare professionals were mapped onto a PCC theory in an expert intervention developmen…
Mental health research capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa
Mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders are a leading, but neglected, cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The treatment gap for MNS is vast with only 10% of people with MNS disorders in low-income countries accessing evidence-based treatments. Reasons for this include low awareness of the burden of MNS disorders and limited evidence to support development, adaptation and implementation of effective and feasible …
The relationship between intimate partner violence and probable depression among adolescent girls and young women in Lilongwe, Malawi
This analysis estimates prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with probable depression among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Lilongwe, Malawi, and whether partner's controlling behaviour modifies this relationship. Baseline data was utilised from the Girl Power-Malawi study of 1000 15-24-year-old AGYW in Lilongwe. Emotional, physical, and sexual IPV experiences with a current or recent partner were measured …
Reliability and validity of the Shona version of the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale in Zimbabwean adult people living with HIV/Aids
This study demonstrates the validity and reliability of the EBBS-Shona version in Zimbabwean PLHIV. The EBBS-Shona version can be used for research and clinical purposes to glean data to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of bespoke PA interventions for PLHIV
Effect of a brief psychological intervention for common mental disorders on HIV viral suppression
Background For people living with co-morbid HIV and common mental disorders (CMD), it is not known whether a brief psychological intervention for CMD can improve HIV viral suppression. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study in eight primary care clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe, enrolling adults with co-morbid HIV and CMD. Six clinics provided the Friendship Bench (FB), a brief psychological intervention for CMD based on problem-solving thera…
“What if I got rejected by the girl? I would rather stop the pills”
Emerging adults aged 18-29 have high rates of viral non-suppression, and poorer adherence to ART when compared to older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 emerging adults in Zimbabwe who had a recent history of viral non-suppression, to explore barriers and facilitators of adherence to ART. Interviews were coded using inductive thematic analysis. The mean age of participants was 23, 65% were male, and 79% reported acquiring…
Rural Friendship Bench
Development and preliminary inter-rater reliability of the new PROOF tool to measure fidelity of problem-solving therapy for depression delivered by non-specialists in a low-resource African setting
Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a brief psychological intervention often implemented for depression. Currently, there are no tools with well-evidenced reliability to measure PST fidelity. This pilot study aimed to measure the inter-rater reliability and agreement of the Pro blem-S o lving Therapy F idelity (PROOF) scale, comprising binary 14-item adherence and an 8-item competence subscales. Transcripts were from the TENDAI trial, a Zimbabwe-bas…
Medicine (24 obras) · Mental health (16 obras) · Psychiatry (16 obras) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (12 obras) · Nursing (10 obras) · Psychological intervention (10 obras) · Family medicine (9 obras) · Psychology (9 obras) · Mental Health Treatment and Access (8 obras) · Qualitative research (8 obras)