ABSTRACT:
‘Tshilonda tshi vhavha mukweti’ (the sore is best felt by the owner) is a Tshivenda proverb emphasising the value of learning from those directly involved in matters that concern them, thereby underscoring the importance of lived experience(1). PLWHIV are more vulnerable to mental health problems than the general population, resulting in poor treatment outcomes, posing a barrier to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030(2-9). Their vulnerability warrants the integration of mental health into HIV programmes. While a growing body of evidence6-8 highlights the importance of this integration, meaningful engagement of PLWHIV as individuals with lived experience and key players in facilitating integration is a significant approach However, there is a lack of literature on meaningful engagement of PLWHIV in integrating mental health into HIV programmes. We conducted a narrative review in 2025 to explore how PLWHIV can be meaningfully engaged in this context. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included. Databases used were EBSCOhost, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. We used Covidence to streamline the selection of eligible studies and minimise bias. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. 21 out of 375 identified studies were eligible. Five themes emerged: (1) The vulnerability of PLWHIV to mental health problems, (2) Meaningful engagement strategies for PLWHIV, (3) Benefits of meaningful engagement, (4) Barriers to integrating mental health into HIV programmes, and (5) Strategies for integrating mental health into HIV programmes. Despite calls to meaningfully engage PLWHIV and place them at the centre of their care (10-12), this review found limited literature on their meaningful engagement in integrating mental health into HIV programmes. Therefore, it underscores the importance of placing them at the centre of their care, recognising their voices during the planning and implementation of impactful interventions that affect them, and valuing their lived experience.