Perinatal HIV exposure and infection and caregiver depressive symptoms

Bibliographic Data

ID19442016
AuthorsSarah K Brewer (0000-0002-0078-0196, Michigan State University), Nicole Talge (Michigan State University), Nicole M Talge (0000-0001-7145-0867, Michigan State University), Claudia Holzman (Michigan State University), Alla Sikorskii (0000-0002-4121-1627, Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA), Amara E Ezeamama (0000-0003-2164-8802, Michigan State University, corresponding author), Amara Ezeamama (Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA)
Year2024
Volume36
Issue2
Pages280-290
Publication date2024-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121.2023.2214865
PMID37352547
OpenAlexW4381839169
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited34

Survival is possible for children perinatally exposed to or infected by HIV in the post-combined antiretroviral therapy era and identifying factors affecting children’s ability to thrive has public health significance. Caregiver mental health is one such factor to consider given its impact on child development, but previous work has not included a full complement of HIV exposure/infection groups within HIV-endemic settings. We compared depressive symptoms among caregivers of 3 groups of 6-10-year-olds in Uganda: children with perinatally acquired HIV infection (CPHIV, n = 102), children with perinatal HIV exposure, but no infection (CPHEU, n = 101), and children without perinatal HIV exposure or infection (CHUU, n = 103). The Hopkins Symptom Checklist was used to assess caregiver depressive symptoms. Generalized linear models were used to estimate group mean differences. Adjusted models included caregiver demographics, social support, and lifetime trauma. Depression symptoms were higher among CPHEU compared to CPHIV caregivers (model coefficient [B] = −3.5, 95%CI −5.3, −1.8). This finding was minimally attenuated following adjustment for covariates (B = −2.2, 95%CI −4.1, −0.4) and among biological mothers. At lower levels of social support and wealth, CPHEU caregivers reported higher levels of depression symptoms than CPHIV caregivers. Our findings point to unmet mental health needs among CPHEU caregivers

Checklist · Cognition · Demographics · Depressive symptoms · Mental health · Psychiatry · Public health · Social support · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Immunology · Pediatrics