Mental Health in Women Living With HIV: The Unique and Unmet Needs

Abstract

Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms at higher rates than their male counterparts and more often than HIV-unaffected women. These mental health issues affect not only the well-being and quality of life of WLWH, but have implications for HIV management and transmission prevention. Despite these ramifications, WLWH are under-treated for mental health concerns and they are underrepresented in the mental health treatment literature. In this review, we illustrate the unique mental health issues faced by WLWH such as a high prevalence of physical and sexual abuse histories, caregiving stress, and elevated internalized stigma as well as myriad barriers to care. We examine the feasibility and outcomes of mental health interventions that have been tested in WLWH including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and supportive counseling. Future research is required to address individual and systemic barriers to mental health care for WLWH.

Psychosocial health in pregnancy and postpartum among women living with - and without HIV and non-pregnant women living with HIV living in Nordic countries – Results from a longitudinal survey study

“…Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of significant biological, social, and psychological changes for a woman and HIV adds another layer of complexity [ 7 – 9 ]. For WWH, pregnancy may be a time of increased psychological vulnerability due to different contextual factors, disclosure issues, and HIV-related stigma [ 6 , 9 , 10 ].…”

“…Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of significant biological, social, and psychological changes for a woman and HIV adds another layer of complexity [ 7 – 9 ]. For WWH, pregnancy may be a time of increased psychological vulnerability due to different contextual factors, disclosure issues, and HIV-related stigma [ 6 , 9 , 10 ]. Moreover, in addition to the usual stresses of new motherhood, WWH must also cope with stressors that include their own health, the unknown infectious states of their infants, and attending to their infants´ unique needs such as the administration of prophylactic antiretroviral medication [ 6 , 11 ].…”

Global Systematic Review of Common Mental Health Disorders in Adults Living with HIV

“…Women living with HIV (WLWH) have a higher burden of CMHD compared to women without HIV and men living with HIV. Mental health issues in WLWH, such as depression, posttraumatic stress (PTSD), and anxiety, are associated with poor quality of life and worse HIV health outcomes [ 4 ]. Mental health symptoms, particularly depression, and mental health vulnerabilities are also widespread among pregnant WLWH and have the potential to affect well-being, quality of life, and clinical obstetric outcomes [ 5 ].…”

A Structural Equation Model of The Relationships Between Psychological Distress, HIV Status And Other Exogenous Factors In South Africa

“…In South Africa, HIV is a major problem among the youth especially among females [34]. Other studies have also found a higher prevalence of psychological distress among women living with HIV compared to men [35][36][37]. It is likely therefore that differential patterns of exposure to HIV predispose these population groups to psychological distress.…”