Depression and perceived stress among perinatal women living with HIV in Nigeria.

Background: Pregnancy and postpartum periods are crucial stages for women's mental health, and women living with HIV are particularly susceptible to depression and psychological stress due to various factors. This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of depression and perceived stress among women living with HIV during their perinatal period in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three HIV treatment centers in Ibadan, Nigeria, among women living with HIV between the ages of 19 and 49 who were either pregnant or had given birth within the last 2 years. The study was conducted from September 2022 to December 2022. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from the participants. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained, and data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 26. Results: The study included 402 participants, of whom 69.0 and 78.0% reported symptoms of depression and perceived stress, respectively. However, 15.2% of the participants have comorbid depression and stress. Positive partner status was significantly associated with lower perceived depression, while gestational age between 29 and 40 weeks was significantly associated with lower perceived stress. The co-occurrence of depression and perceived stress was associated with partner status, income level, family support, gestational age, and years on antiretroviral therapy. Conclusion: The high prevalence of depression, perceived stress, and their co-occurrence among women living with HIV during the perinatal period call for incorporating mental health care into routine maternal healthcare for all women, particularly those living with HIV. This finding emphasizes the need for public health efforts to prioritize perinatal mental health and improve access to care and support for women and their partners.

Psychosocial experiences of pregnant women living with HIV in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Introduction: Pregnancy often intensifies psychological vulnerabilities in women living with HIV (WLHIV) due to increased stressors such as health concerns, infant infection risks, and the management of special neonatal needs like prophylactic antiretroviral care. Methodology: The study was conducted in four HIV treatment centres with participant selection based on the following criteria: an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score of 13 or above, gestational age between 14 to 40 weeks, less than five years of antiretroviral therapy (ART) usage, and history of partner conflict. This research forms a more extensive study of stress and depression amongst pregnant and postpartum WLWH. In-depth interviews, ranging from 20 to 40 minutes, were conducted with 26 HIV-positive pregnant women in private rooms within selected antiretroviral clinics from October and December 2022. Results and Discussion: The study discovered that the support received from healthcare providers concerning ART and Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) practices alleviated women's fear of death and perinatal transmission which bolstered their involvement in HIV care and fostered the birth of children not infected with HIV. Women perceived monogamy as a protective measure against HIV contraction. Participants who reported having partners engaging in unsafe sexual practices expressed anger and blame. The observation of other women with similar experiences aided in coping mechanisms, reaffirming previous findings that knowing someone living with HIV helps to accept their status due to the comfort derived from shared experiences. Conclusion: Healthcare providers attending to pregnant WLWH can alleviate psychological distress by reinforcing positive coping strategies. These include consistent psychological distress screenings in HIV clinics and relevant mental health evaluations with appropriate care referrals.