Prenatal and Mental Health Care Among Trauma-Exposed, HIV-Infected, Pregnant Women in the United States

Olga M. Villar-Loubet, Lourdes Illa, Marisa Echenique, Ryan Cook, Barbara Messick, Lunthita M. Duthely, Shirley Gazabon, Myriam Glemaud, Victoria Bustamante-Avellaneda, Jo Nell Potter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Comprehensive prenatal care for HIV-infected women in the United States involves addressing mental health needs. Retrospective quantitative data are presented from HIV-infected pregnant women (n = 45) who reported childhood sexual or physical abuse (66%), abuse in adulthood by a sexual partner (25%), and abuse during pregnancy (10%). Depression and anxiety were the most commonly reported psychological symptoms; more than half of the sample reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including HIV-related PTSD (PTSD-HIV). There was a strong association between depression and PTSD as well as between anxiety and PTSD-HIV. The majority of infants received zidovudine at birth and continued the recommended regimen. All but one infant were determined to be noninfected. Women improved their CD4+ T cell counts and HIV RNA viral loads while in prenatal care. Results support the need for targeted prenatal programs to address depression, anxiety, substance use, and trauma in HIV-infected women.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)S50-S61
JournalJournal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Volume25
Issue numberSUPPL1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • HIV
  • Mental health
  • Prenatal
  • Trauma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Advanced and Specialized Nursing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prenatal and Mental Health Care Among Trauma-Exposed, HIV-Infected, Pregnant Women in the United States'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this