Rates and predictors of prenatal depression in women living with and without HIV

AIDS Care. 2014 Jan;26(1):100-6. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2013.802277. Epub 2013 Jun 11.

Abstract

Depression is a significant mental health and public health concern, and women living with HIV are at increased risk for depression. This risk may be especially elevated during pregnancy; however, few studies have attempted to identify rates and predictors of depression in pregnant, HIV-infected women. The purpose of the present study was to investigate rates and predictors of prenatal depression, such as history of depression, childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and social support among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was hypothesized that pregnant women with HIV will have higher rates of depressive symptoms and will exhibit a greater number of mood disorder diagnoses as compared to HIV-uninfected pregnant women. It was also hypothesized that HIV status, history of depression, CSA, and inadequate social support will emerge as predictors of depressive symptoms. A sample of 163 women, 31% (n=50) of whom were HIV-infected and 69% (n=113) of whom were HIV-uninfected, were recruited from an obstetrics/gynecology clinic affiliated with an urban university hospital. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to identify depressive symptoms, and Modules A and D of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) confirmed the presence of a mood disorder. Findings demonstrated that rates of depressive symptoms and mood disorder diagnoses during pregnancy did not differ according to HIV serostatus. History depression, CSA, and inadequate social support predicted depressive symptoms during pregnancy in this sample. Due to their association with depressive symptoms, history of depression, CSA, and inadequate social support may be important to identify during pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology*
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Mood Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mood Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mood Disorders / psychology
  • Philadelphia / epidemiology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications / psychology*
  • Prenatal Care*
  • Prevalence
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Support
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Young Adult