Publication date: Feb 11, 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unparalleled increase in psychological distress among everyone and everywhere. Perinatal depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) are more prominent among HIV-positive pregnant women and are associated with poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and explore the factors associated with DAS among HIV-positive pregnant women in India. A multicentric, cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted among all HIV-positive pregnant women, aged more than 18 years, taking antiretroviral therapy, and attending antenatal care visits at two hospitals that are offering HIV care services in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Women who were unable to communicate were mentally ill, and refused to give consent were excluded. The study was conducted for a period of eighteen months from April 2020 to September 2021. A validated and interview-based data collection form was used to capture sociodemographic, obstetric profiles, clinical and support-related profiles, and COVID-19 stressors among study participants. The DASS-21 scale was used to assess depression, anxiety, and stress among study participants. Univariable and multivariable Poisson regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with DAS among study participants. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among HIV-positive pregnant women was found to be 50. 3% (95% CI 23. 6-76. 4), 56. 2% (95% CI 28. 3-80. 3), and 42. 2% (95% CI 18. 5-69. 9), respectively. A multivariate Poisson regression analysis showed that participants living in a rural area (adj. PR 1. 43,1. 08-1. 91), primigravidae (adj. PR 1. 37, 1. 09-1. 72), less number of ANC visits (adj. PR 1. 41, 1. 12-1. 76), identified HIV during pregnancy (adj. PR 1. 42, 1. 13-1. 77), non-disclosure of HIV status with one’s partner (adj. PR 1. 43, 1. 11-1. 83), no partner support (adj. PR 1. 84, 1. 31-2. 59), and having a negative HIV status sexual partner (adj. PR 1. 35, 1. 02-1. 79) were all significantly associated with depression. Factors such as lack of partner support (adj. PR 1. 48, 1. 09-1. 99) and known HIV status during pregnancy (adj. PR 1. 24, 1. 01-1. 52) were significantly associated with anxiety. Participants who had less ANC visits (adj. PR 1. 50, 1. 12-2. 02), non-disclosure of HIV status with partner (adj. PR 1. 47, 1. 08-2. 02), known HIV status during pregnancy (adj. PR 1. 62, 1. 23-2. 15), negative HIV status of sexual partner (adj. PR 1. 44, 1. 02-2. 02), and no partner’s support (adj. PR 1. 85, 1. 25-2. 74) were significantly associated with stress. The study concludes that about one-third of the HIV-positive pregnant women reported anxiety, and more than half of the women were feeling stressed and depressed during COVID-19. Factors such as residence and primigravidae were linked with antenatal depression. Whereas variables like ANC visits, knowing HIV status during pregnancy, non-disclosure of HIV status, no partner’s support, and sexual partner HIV negative status were associated with depression and stress. The anxiety symptoms are very high among women who are HIV positive during pregnancy, and not having a partner’s support. Demographic, clinical, and support-related determinants and COVID-19 stressors of DAS provide insights for interventions to reduce the burden of mental health problems among HIV-positive pregnant women.

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