Self-care practices and mental health of people living with HIV/AIDS in Mogadishu, Somalia

Mental health challenges are prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), particularly in conflict-affected and resource-limited settings like Mogadishu, Somalia. While self-care practices have been widely recognized for enhancing psychological well-being in individuals with chronic illnesses, limited research has examined their role in improving mental health outcomes among PLWHA in Somalia. This study investigated the impact of self-care practices on the mental health of PLWHA in Mogadishu. A correlational research design was employed, involving 153 respondents who completed standardized self-care and mental health scales, with Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients of 0.78 and 0.72, respectively. Anchored on the Health Belief Model (HBM), the study assessed the influence of physical, psychological, and professional self-care practices. Results from correlational and multiple regression analyses revealed that all three forms of self-care were significantly and positively associated with mental health. Psychological self-care demonstrated the strongest individual contribution (r = 0.625; β = .404), followed by physical (r = 0.622; β = .370) and professional self-care (r = 0.578; β = .302). Collectively, the self-care variables explained 65.7% of the variance in mental health (R² = 0.657), and the model was statistically significant (F(3,149) = 95.056, p < .005). These findings underscore the importance of holistic self-care strategies in promoting psychological well-being among PLWHA in fragile settings. The study recommends integrating self-care education, psychological support interventions, and physical wellness programs into existing HIV/AIDS care frameworks to enhance mental health outcomes in Somalia and similar contexts.