Association of spiritual well-being with quality of life among undergraduate nursing students

Objective:The study was conducted with the aim of determining the spiritual well-being(SWB)of nursing students and its association with quality of life(QOL).Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with a sample size of 504 nursing students collected from January 2023 to March 2023 in the nursing institutes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan,using convenient sampling techniques.A Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure(SHALOM)questionnaire for SWB and K-27 QOL(K-27 QOL)instrument were used for data collection that contains three parts.Results:The number of female participants was in the majority(50.4%)compared to male nurses(49.6%).The overall mean score of SWB of the students was 3.79±0.48,while the mean K-27 QOL score was 3.73±0.57.There were significant differences between the groups of gender(P=0.001),while no significant difference within the groups of semester(P=0.061)and college status(0.285).In QOL,there were significant differences within the groups of semester(P=0.000)and college status(P=0.036)while no significant difference in gender category(P=0.480).SHALOM score is positively and moderately correlated with QOL score(r=0.597,P<0.05).Conclusion:Spiritual practices are one of the important factors that are associated positively with QOL,therefore to enhance the QOL,it will require spiritual practices.

A 32-Year Systematic Review:Exploring the State of Christian Spirituality and Mental Health Research

This study reviewed scholarly articles on the relationship between Christian spirituality and mental health published in academic journals from 1980 to 2022.The review analyzed findings from 44 studies that likely used various research methods like surveys,interviews,and experiments.The results reveal a consistent link between Christian beliefs,such as faith,hope,and love,and positive mental health outcomes.Most studies focused on the therapeutic effects of Christian spirituality in alleviating mental disturbances and improving well-being.However,the review also identified gaps in the literature,including a lack of research on the relationship between Christian spirituality and mental illness,small sample sizes,and a lack of cross-cultural and cross-religious investigations.The article emphasizes the importance of addressing these limitations to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between mental health and spirituality.

Exploring the Intersection of Spirituality and Religion:Transcendence,Secularism,and Personal Beliefs in Contemporary Society

This paper explores the intersection of spirituality and religion,focusing on how transcendence,secularism,and personal beliefs shape contemporary spiritual practices.It examines the philosophical foundations of transcendence,the rise of existentialism,and the distinction between spirituality and religion.Secularism's role in fostering personal spirituality and reducing religious authority is discussed,alongside the psychological and societal impacts of spiritual transcendence.The paper also critiques the limitations of spirituality,emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that integrates cognitive development and mental health perspectives.

From Ancient Rituals to Modern Spirituality:The Evolution and Personalization of Religious Experience

This paper explores the evolution of religious experience from ancient nature worship and ancestor reverence to modern individualized spirituality.It examines how early spiritual practices were deeply intertwined with daily life,later becoming institutionalized through formalized religions with complex rituals and doctrines.The rise of mysticism,emphasizing personal connections with the divine,persisted alongside institutional religions.In contemporary society,the shift towards"spiritual but not religious"reflects a return to personalized spiritual paths,driven by individualism and the desire for direct,meaningful spiritual experiences.This trend's implications for both individuals and society are also discussed.

Spiritual Forests—A Nature Conservation Model of Ethnic Minority Communities in Central Viet Nam

This paper aims to analyze and evaluate a model of forest conservation and management of ethnic minority (or indigenous) people in central Vietnam, often referred to as the spiritual forest. These forests, called sacred forest or ghost forests by the ethnic minority people in Thua Thien Hue province, have existed for a long time among forest residents. However, they have recently declined, both in quality and quantity, due to various factors, including changes in society, economy, environment, and perception, among other reasons. Based on research conducted in A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue province with household interviews, group discussions, and field surveys, we find that spiritual forest retains religious and human significance. They are also often among the last remaining natural forests left due to deforestation by human activities. The research results indicate challenges that conservation of spiritual forest may face, while giving recommendations derived from communities for sustainable forest development and conservation in the region.

The emerging role of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to ameliorate hippocampal NLRP3 inflammation induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescence

Our previous studies have reported that activation of the NLRP3(NOD-,LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3)-inflammasome complex in ethanol-treated astrocytes and chronic alcohol-fed mice could be associated with neuroinflammation and brain damage.Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles(MSC-EVs)have been shown to restore the neuroinflammatory response,along with myelin and synaptic structural alterations in the prefrontal cortex,and alleviate cognitive and memory dysfunctions induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescent mice.Considering the therapeutic role of the molecules contained in mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles,the present study analyzed whether the administration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles isolated from adipose tissue,which inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome,was capable of reducing hippocampal neuroinflammation in adolescent mice treated with binge drinking.We demonstrated that the administration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorated the activation of the hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome complex and other NLRs inflammasomes(e.g.,pyrin domain-containing 1,caspase recruitment domain-containing 4,and absent in melanoma 2,as well as the alterations in inflammatory genes(interleukin-1β,interleukin-18,inducible nitric oxide synthase,nuclear factor-kappa B,monocyte chemoattractant protein-1,and C–X3–C motif chemokine ligand 1)and miRNAs(miR-21a-5p,miR-146a-5p,and miR-141-5p)induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescent mice.Bioinformatic analysis further revealed the involvement of miR-21a-5p and miR-146a-5p with inflammatory target genes and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways.Taken together,these findings provide novel evidence of the therapeutic potential of MSC-derived EVs to ameliorate the hippocampal neuroinflammatory response associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by binge drinking in adolescence.

Global,regional and national burdens of bipolar disorders in adolescents and young adults:a trend analysis from 1990 to 2019

Background Bipolar disorder is identified as a cause of severe damage to the physical,psychological and social functioning of adolescents and young adults.Aims The aim of this study is to ascertain the trends in the burden of bipolar disorder among individuals aged 10-24 years at global,regional and national levels from 1990 to 2019.Methods The data analysed in this study were from the Global Burden of Diseases 2019.The numbers,rates per 100000 population,average annual percentage changes(AAPCs)of incidence,prevalence and years lived with disability(YLDs)of bipolar disorder are reported at the global,regional and national levels among individuals aged 10-24 years.Global trends by age,sex and Social Development Index(SDI)were further analysed.Results Globally,the incidence of bipolar disorder among adolescents and young adults increased from 79.21 per 100000 population(95%uncertainty interval(Ul):58.13 to 105.15)in 1990 to 84.97 per 100000 population(95%Ul:61.73 to 113.46)in 2019,AAPC 0.24(95%confidence interval(Cl):0.22 to 0.26).In the past three decades,there has been an increase in incidence,prevalence and YLDs in both males and females.The largest increase in incidence between 1990 and 2019 was observed in those aged 20-24 years old from 51.76 per 100000 population(95%Ul:26.81 to 87.20)in 1990 to 58.37 per 100000 population(95%UI:30.39 to 98.55)in 2019;AAPC 0.42(95%Cl:0.38 to 0.47).By the SDI quintile,the largest increase in incidence was observed in the middle SDl;however,the high SDI countries had the highest incidence.Regionally,the largest increase in incidence was observed in southern Latin America.At the national level,the most pronounced increase in the incidence was in Greenland.Conclusions The global increase in incidence among adolescents and young adults between 1990 and 2019 indicates that strategies to improve their mental health still need to be emphasised.

Coping with Trauma:The Relationship between Religiosity,Spirituality,and Post-Traumatic Symptoms among Civilians Exposed to Ongoing Rocket-Fire

Living under ongoing shelling and missile attacks could cause a widespread of disruption of everyday life and emotional distress.Coping with such distress could be associated with the personal resources of religion and spirituality.The present study aimed to examine the relationships between religiosity and spirituality with Post Traumatic stress Disorder(PTSD)symptoms among a civilian population frequently exposed to missile and rocket threats.One hundred and twenty-four(N=124)civilian participants living within 10 km from shelling and missile attacks fired towards them,completed demographic,religiosity,spirituality,and PTSD questionnaires.The study findings demonstrate that religiosity is associated with higher levels of PTSD symptoms while spirituality is associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms.When dividing the sample into two groupsreligious and secular,no association was found between religiosity and PTSD symptoms among the religious group,whereas among the secular group,there was a positive association.Spirituality was negatively associated with PTSD symptoms among both groups.This study may offer a significant contribution to models of intervention following continued exposure to trauma,emphasizing the importance of spiritually and sensitivity to religion while coping with PTSD symptoms.Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

From Spiritual Communication to Digital Communication:Rethinking Marx’s Communication Theory in the Information Age

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels introduced the theory of spiritual communication in their influential work,The German Ideology,thereby establishing the Marxist perspective on communication.This theory has a distinct historical context,meaning,and significance.As society advances,driven by the proliferation of commodity-based economies and advancements in science and technology,humanity has entered the digital information age.The prevailing mode of communication in this era,centered around the Internet and big data,brings great convenience to society but also raises concerns about the potential alienation of both subjective and objective aspects of communication,as well as social relationships.Against this backdrop,the rethinking of Marx’s communication theory in the 21st century provides a logical framework and theoretical basis for critiquing the contemporary form of spiritual communication through the digital communication of the information age.

Shifting the Paradigm:A Fresh Look at Physical Activity Frequency and Its Impact on Mental Health,Life Satisfaction,and Self-Rated Health in Adolescents

As adolescent mental health problems are becoming a more serious issue globally,this paper explores the relationship of physical activity in adolescents and its frequency on mental health as well as examines the mediating effects of life satisfaction and self-rated health in order to provide a reference for the promotion of mental health in adolescents.A sample of 3578 Chinese high school students completed questionnaires assessing their mental health,physical activity frequency,life satisfaction,and self-rated health.The mean SCL-90 value for adolescents was found to be 1.629%,and 24.73%of adolescents had varying degrees of mental health issue.Increased physical activity frequency is positively associated with improved mental health(p<0.001).Additionally,life satisfaction and self-rated health were found to play significant mediating roles in the relationship between physical activity frequency and mental health.Specifically,low-frequency physical activity had the most pronounced mediating effect on mental health through life satisfaction,while high-frequency physical activity exerted the most significant mediating effect on mental health through self-rated health.These findings underscore the importance of promoting physical activity among adolescents and highlight the distinct pathways through which physical activity frequency can influence mental health outcomes.Further research is needed to explore these relationships in diverse populations and settings,as well as to develop targeted intervention.

Parental Educational Expectations,Academic Pressure,and Adolescent Mental Health:An Empirical Study Based on CEPS Survey Data

Background:This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental educational expectations and adolescent mental health problems,with academic pressure as a moderating variable.Methods:This study was based on the baseline data of the China Education Panel Survey,which was collected within one school year during 2013–2014.It included 19,958 samples from seventh and ninth graders,who ranged from 11 to 18 years old.After removing missing values and conducting relevant data processing,the effective sample size for analysis was 16344.The OLS(Ordinary Least Squares)multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between parental educational expectations,academic pressure,and adolescents’mental health problems.In addition,we established an interaction term between parents’educational expectations and academic pressure to investigate the moderating effect of academic stress.Results:The study found that adolescents whose parents had high educational expectations reported less mental health problems.(β=−0.195;p<0.001).Additionally,adolescents who had high academic pressure reported more mental health problems.(β=0.649;p<0.001).Furthermore,the study found that academic pressure had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between parental educational expectations and adolescents’mental health problems(β=0.082;p<0.001).Conclusion:Parental educational expectations had a close relationship with adolescents’mental health problems,and academic pressure moderated this relationship.For those adolescents with high levels of academic pressure,the association between high parental educational expectations and mental health problems became stronger.On the contrary,for those adolescents with low levels of academic pressure,the association between high parental educational expectations and mental health problems became weaker.These findings shed new light on how parental educational expectations affected adolescent mental health problems and had significant implications for their healthy development.

Factors influencing spiritual wellbeing among pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients receiving chemotherapy

BACKGROUND Spiritual wellbeing emphasizes optimistic and positive attitudes while selfregulating negative emotions when coping with stress.However,there have only been a few small studies of spiritual wellbeing of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)patients undergoing chemotherapy.The core factors influencing spiritual wellbeing in this clinical population are still unclear.AIM To identify factors influencing spiritual wellbeing among patients with PDAC receiving chemotherapy.METHODS A total of 143 PDAC patients receiving chemotherapy were enrolled from January to December 2022.Patients completed general information questionnaires including:Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being 12 Item Scale(FACIT-Sp-12),European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30(EORTC QLQ-C30)and Zung’s Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS).Independent sample t-test,one-way analysis of variance,Pearson’s correlation analysis,and multiple linear regression analysis were adopted for statistical analyses.P<0.05(two-tailed)was considered statistically significant for all tests.RESULTS Total spiritual wellbeing(FACIT-Sp-12)score was 32.16±10.06 points,while dimension sub-scores were 10.85±3.76 for faith,10.55±3.42 for meaning,and 10.76±4.00 for peace.Total spiritual wellbeing score was negatively correlated with SAS score for anxiety and with the symptom domain of EORTC QLC-C30.Conversely,spiritual wellbeing score was positively correlated with global health status and EORTC QLQ-C30 role functioning domain score.Multivariate regression analysis identified educational level,health insurance category,symptom domain,functional role domain,and global health status as significant independent factors influencing spiritual wellbeing among PDAC patients undergoing chemotherapy(R2=0.502,P<0.05).CONCLUSION Individualized spiritual support is needed for PDAC patients.Health,daily functioning,emotional,cognitive,and social function status should be taken into account to promote implementation of spirituality in nursing practice.

Adolescent suicide risk factors and the integration of socialemotional skills in school-based prevention programs

Adolescents are considered one of the most vulnerable groups affected by suicide.Rapid changes in adolescents’physical and mental states,as well as in their lives,significantly and undeniably increase the risk of suicide.Psychological,social,family,individual,and environmental factors are important risk factors for suicidal behavior among teenagers and may contribute to suicide risk through various direct,indirect,or combined pathways.Social-emotional learning is considered a powerful intervention measure for addressing the crisis of adolescent suicide.When deliberately cultivated,fostered,and enhanced,selfawareness,self-management,social awareness,interpersonal skills,and responsible decision-making,as the five core competencies of social-emotional learning,can be used to effectively target various risk factors for adolescent suicide and provide necessary mental and interpersonal support.Among numerous suicide intervention methods,school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence have shown great potential in preventing and addressing suicide risk factors in adolescents.The characteristics of school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence,including their appropriateness,necessity,cost-effectiveness,comprehensiveness,and effectiveness,make these interventions an important means of addressing the crisis of adolescent suicide.To further determine the potential of school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence and better address the issue of adolescent suicide,additional financial support should be provided,the combination of socialemotional learning and other suicide prevention programs within schools should be fully leveraged,and cooperation between schools and families,society,and other environments should be maximized.These efforts should be considered future research directions.

Exploring the Multivariate Relationships between Adolescent Depression and Social Support, Religiosity, and Spirituality in a Faith-Based High School

Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders that affect adolescents. In this study, we investigated how depression in adolescents relates to social support, religiosity, and spirituality in multivariate analyses. We also investigated whether age, gender and ethnicity are predictors of depression among adolescents in a faith-based high school. We measured social support using the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS), religiosity with the Duke University Religion Index (DUREL);spirituality with the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS);and depression with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). Results of the bivariate analyses showed a significant negative association between depression and social support, religiosity, and spirituality (p –0.548, p = 0.00) was negatively related to depression in adolescents. The study found significant gender differences only in religiosity, while significant ethnic differences were only found in social support. Implications to education, practice, research and future directions of study are discussed.

Nutrition Awareness and Knowledge and Body Mass Index in Adolescents in Public Junior Secondary Schools

Background: Non-communicable diseases are increasing among adolescents. The decision about diet is the foundation of eating habits that could persist to adulthood. Dietary decisions, which usually are hard to change later in life, make nutrition education at school paramount to prevent obesity and NCDs, and promote healthy eating. Objectives: To assess level of nutrition awareness and knowledge of healthy eating and food intake behaviors and association with Body Mass Index (BMI) and age. Methods: A cross sectional study that included measures such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, BMI, and nutrition knowledge was conducted in 264 respondents from 18th June 2015 to 9th July 2015. The nutrition knowledge questionnaire was composed of 24 questions divided into food nutrients, food contents, healthiest foods, and energy expenditure and nutrition benefits. CDC BMI chart for 2-20-year-olds was used to plot respondent’s weight and height. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 14.3 years (SD 0.79). Most of the respondents (153/252, 53.6%) had a low socio-economic status as categorized by the present study. The mean (SD) BMI was 20.08 (3.90). Most respondents (56.3%, 142/252) failed the knowledge test and scored below 50% and only two respondents (0.8%) had excellent nutrition knowledge. The mean percentage achieved was 46.1% (SD 15.91) ranging from 8.3% to 87.5%. There was a significant correlation between nutrition knowledge and BMI (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The study shows that adolescents do not have adequate nutrition knowledge, placing them at risk for developing non-communicable diseases later in life. Nutrition education programs are urgently needed for teachers, parents, and children.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Present or Gone, Where Do Adolescents Stand?

Introduction: The initial global response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic focused on adults as adolescents mainly had subclinical infections. Adolescents, however, could transmit the virus and hence be a risk to the elderly, young children and immunocompromised. Adolescents are also at risk of long-term complications. This study sought to determine the prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 among adolescents in Southern Nigeria, and to determine the association between SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and age, gender, socioeconomic class, school type and nutritional status. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Edo state of southern Nigeria. We recruited 270 in-school adolescents aged 10 - 19 years. A WHO-adapted, pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain data on participant history and risk factors. The questionnaire was interviewer-administered. Adolescents whose parents gave consent were recruited through a multi-stage randomized sampling method. Capillary blood for the assay was collected and analysed using a lateral-flow immunoassay device. The primary outcome was serostatus of the study. The positive predictors of serostatus were finally determined using a multiple logistics regression model. Statistical significance was set at p Results: The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 45.9%. IgM antibodies were found in 5.6% of participants. Older adolescents had higher seropositivity rates than younger adolescents (2 = 8.101, p = 0.017). There was no association between gender and seropositivity. Adolescents in public schools were more likely to be seropositive than those in private schools (2 = 25.242, p = 0.001). A higher seroprevalence was noticed among study participants in the lower socioeconomic class (x2 = 6.928, p = 0.031), and those in overcrowded classes. (2 = 79.303, p = 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed a high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among in-school adolescents. Behavioural change communication on SARS-CoV-2, vaccination of adolescents, and standardization of classrooms are recommended.

Network analysis of suicide ideation and depression-anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents

Background The co-occurrence of depression and anxiety among adolescents is typically associated with suicide ideation.Aims The study aimed to investigate the symptom-level relationship between suicide ideation and the comorbidity of depression and anxiety.Methods 1501 adolescents aged 12-19 years were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-9)and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale,and 716 adolescents who scored≥5 on both scales were selected as participants.Network analysis was used to identify the network structure of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms.Participants were categorised into either the suicide ideation or non-suicide ideation groups based on their scoring on the suicide-related item in PHQ-9.A comparison was made between the depression-anxiety symptom networks of the two groups.Results‘Restlessness’,‘sad mood’and‘trouble relaxing’were the most prominent central symptoms in the depression-anxiety symptom network,and‘restlessness’,‘nervousness’and‘reduced movement’were the bridge symptoms in this network.‘Sad mood’was found to be directly related to‘suicide ideation’with the highest variance.The network structure was significantly different in properties between the suicide ideation group and the non-suicide ideation group,with‘restlessness’and‘sad mood’exhibiting significantly higher influence in the network of the suicide ideation group than that in the non-suicide ideation group.Conclusion Restlessness and sad mood could be targeted for the intervention of depression-anxiety symptoms among adolescents with suicide ideation.

Thirty-year trends of anxiety disorders among adolescents based on the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study

Background Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric problems,affecting approximately 1 in 12 children and 1 in 4 adolescents.Understanding the incidence,burden and correlated risks of anxiety disorders among children and adolescents can help identify areas of success,stagnation and emerging threats,thereby facilitating effective improvement strategies.Aims To estimate the incidence and burden trends of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2019 in 204 countries and compare the incidence and disease burden in different countries.To examine the association between anxiety disorders and social indicators(healthcare access and quality of life).Methods Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.The age-standardised incidence rates(ASIRs)and disability-adjusted life years(DALYs)were reported to assess the burden of anxiety disorders,and the estimated annual percentage change was calculated to quantify the temporal trends.Pearson’s correlation was used to investigate country-level risk factors for incidence and DALYs.Results Globally,there were 932 million incident cases of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents,739.29 per 100000 ASIRs and 380.62 million DALYs in 2019.From 1990 to 2019,the estimated annual percentage change of incidence of anxiety disorders decreased by 2.2%.Significant variations were observed in the age-standardised burden rate and the changing trend of anxiety disorders among countries.Portugal reported the highest ASIR of anxiety disorders,while Mexico had the largest increase rate of ASIR.In 2019,Portugal reported the highest number of DALYs(1001.71 million),and India(212.09 million)reported the lowest number of DALYs.The burden of anxiety disorders was positively correlated with the average number of psychiatrists,psychologists and nurses in the mental health sector(per 100000),and quality of life and the correlation coefficients were 0.58,0.67,0.43 and 0.53,respectively.Conclusions The incidence and global burden of anxiety disorders in adolescents have continued to decrease over the past 30 years.However,the incidence and disease burden in developed countries are still increasing steadily.Policymakers should design and implement mental health strategies for adolescents based on their specific developmental status,as well as the cultural and regional characteristics of each country.

Mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between rumination and suicide attempts in Chinese adolescents with mood disorders

To the editor:Mood disorders(MD)are serious mental illnesses that commonly affect adolescents,leading to a high incidence of suicidal behaviour.1 In China,the suicide attempt(SA)rate for adolescents with MD is 51.96%,2 and over 500000 adolescent SA are reported annually in the USA due to depression.3 Risk factors for SA include gender,hormone levels,family conflict and,particularly,negative cognitive styles such as rumination.

Audits of Death in HIV-Infected Children and Adolescents Followed up in the Pediatric Department of the Regional Teaching Hospital of Borgou/Alibori from 2005 to 2020

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major public health problem with high morbidity and mortality among children. The objective of this work was to audit the deaths of children and adolescents with HIV infection followed up in the pediatric department of the Regional Teaching Hospital of Borgou/Alibori (CHUDB/A) the from 2005 to 2020. Patients and Method: This was a retrospective and descriptive study conducted in the pediatric department of CHUD/B-A in Parakou. All children with HIV infection who died from January 1, 2005 to August 31, 2020 were included. Data collection was carried out in three stages: a phase of medical records processing, a phase of community survey and a phase of death audits. The variables studied were sociodemographic, clinical, biological, therapeutic and evolutionary. Results: Over the study period, the data of 464 infected children were recorded, including 92 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 19.83%. Severe acute malnutrition (69.23%), gastro-intestinal tract infections (43.58%) and serious opportunistic pulmonary infections (24.36% pulmonary tuberculosis and 19.23% pneumocystis) were the main causes of death. The main dysfunctions found were: the delayed diagnosis of HIV infection (79.35%), the absence or delay in consultation when the child’s clinical condition deteriorates (32.61% and 47.83%), delayed initiation of antiretroviral treatment (42.39%) and non-adherence to treatment (38.04%). Non-adherence to treatment was predominant in adolescents (90.49%). Conclusion: Specific interventions for early detection, adequate nutritional care, psychosocial support for adolescents and mothers of children are necessary to reduce mortality due to HIV among children and adolescents.