Abstract
Background or Objectives:Women living with HIV (WLHIV) are at increased risk of depression. In pregnancy, depression could affect health and pregnancy outcomes, as well as child rearing. We assessed depressive symptoms and quality of life of WLHIV during the perinatal period.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted at 15 hospitals in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF_THAI) were used to screen for depressive symptoms and to assess quality of life (QOL), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed by the SPSS. Descriptive statistics were reported. Factors associated with depressive symptoms were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine association between depressive symptom scores and QOL. Regression coefficient (b) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results:One hundred WLHIV were enrolled and the mean age was 29.2 ±7.5 years. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 30 (30%), 95% CI 21-39; specifically, 34 (34%) in pregnant and 27 (27%) in postpartum women. Overall, depressive symptoms were mild in 22 (22%), moderate in 7 (7%), and moderately severe in one (1%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that verbal abuse by partner (b=4.751 (95% CI=2.306-9.790), p< 0.001) and lifetime alcohol use (b=3.403 (95% CI=1.427-8.115), p=0.006) were associated with depressive symptoms. The overall perception of own health and quality of life of WLHIV in all domains were lower than that of HIV-negative women. WLHIV with depressive symptoms had a significantly lower QOL than those without.Conclusion and Global Health Implications:In this study, the prevalence of depressive symptoms in women living with HIV was similar to that in HIV-negative women. WLHIV with depressive symptoms had a significantly lower QOL than those without. Mental health screening in antenatal and postpartum clinic is warranted.
Highlights
This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among WLHIV during pregnancy up to one-year postpartum, and to assess their quality of life when compared to HIVnegative women
In this study,we found that women who were newly diagnosed with HIV during their latest pregnancy had more symptoms of depression, than women with a pre-pregnancy HIV-diagnosis
We found that verbal abuse by their partner and lifetime alcohol use by the women were associated with the presence of depressive symptoms
Summary
Perinatal depression is one of the several mental health concerns in reproductive-age women globally. The prevalence of depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period ranged from 8-20%.1. A systematic review of 23 studies in low- and middle-income countries among pregnant women documented that depression prevalence widely ranged from 1-30%.2. A 2013 Malawian study conducted among pregnant women at an antenatal clinic reported that 21.1% had either major or minor depressive episodes.. A 2013 Malawian study conducted among pregnant women at an antenatal clinic reported that 21.1% had either major or minor depressive episodes.3 Socioeconomic factors such as parity, education, income, residential property, and interaction with partner were predictors of depression, as measured in a German study.. Depression could affect health and pregnancy outcomes, as well as child rearing.We assessed depressive symptoms and quality of life of WLHIV during the perinatal period
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