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Mental Health of HIV-Seropositive Women During Pregnancy and Postpartum Period: A Comprehensive Literature Review

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Abstract

With growing numbers of HIV-seropositive (HIV+) women of child-bearing age and increased access to effective clinical protocols for preventing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, mental health-related factors have become increasingly relevant due to their potential to affect the women’s quality of life, obstetric outcomes and risk of MTCT. This review synthesizes evidence from 53 peer-reviewed publications examining mental health-related variables in pregnant and postpartum HIV+ women. The presentation of results is organized by the level of socioeconomic resources in the countries where studies were conducted (i.e., high-, middle-, and low-income countries). It is concluded that psychiatric symptoms, particularly depression, and mental health vulnerabilities (e.g., inadequate coping skills) are widespread among pregnant HIV+ women globally and have a potential to affect psychological well-being, quality of life and salient clinical outcomes. The current body of evidence provides rationale for developing and evaluating clinical and structural interventions aimed at improving mental health outcomes and their clinical correlates in pregnant HIV+ women.

Resumen

Con un número creciente de VIH- seropositivos (VIH+) en las mujeres en edad de procreación y un mayor acceso a los protocolos clínicos eficaces para prevenir la transmisión de madre a hijo (TMH) del VIH, los factores relacionados con la salud mental se han vuelto cada vez más relevantes debido a su potencial para afectar los resultados obstétricos y la transmisión vertical. Este articulo sintetiza la evidencia de 53 publicaciones de expertos que examinan las variables relacionadas con la salud mental en mujeres embarazadas y puérperas con VIH +. La presentación de los resultados está organizada por el nivel de los recursos socioeconómicos en los países donde se realizaron los estudios (es decir, países de altos, medianos y bajos ingresos). Se concluye que los síntomas psiquiátricos, en particular la depresión, y la vulnerabilidad de la salud mental (por ejemplo, habilidades de enfrentar problemas inadecuadas) son muy comunes entre las mujeres VIH + embarazadas a nivel mundial y tienen el potencial de afectar las consecuencias clínicas. La mayoría de la evidencia actual proporciona bases fundamentales para el desarrollo y la evaluación de las intervenciones clínicas e institucionales destinadas a mejorar los resultados de salud mental y sus correlaciones clínicas en mujeres VIH + embarazadas.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Pedro Martinez, MD, for the expert translation of Abstract. This project was supported in part by the District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research (P30AI087714) funds.

Disclaimer

Dr. Kapetanovic and Ms. Nora contributed to this article each in their personal capacity. The views expressed are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institutes of Health or United States Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Suad Kapetanovic & Diana Nora

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Priscilla Dass-Brailsford

  3. Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Nicholas Talisman

  4. NIMH Office of the Clinical Director, 10-CRC, Room 6-5340, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1276, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1276, USA

    Suad Kapetanovic

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  1. Suad Kapetanovic
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Correspondence to Suad Kapetanovic.

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Kapetanovic, S., Dass-Brailsford, P., Nora, D. et al. Mental Health of HIV-Seropositive Women During Pregnancy and Postpartum Period: A Comprehensive Literature Review. AIDS Behav 18, 1152–1173 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0728-9

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