TY - JOUR
T1 - Screening for psychological morbidity in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected pregnant women using community counselors in Zimbabwe
AU - Stranix-Chibanda, Lynda
AU - Chibanda, Dixon
AU - Chingono, Albert
AU - Montgomery, Elizabeth
AU - Wells, Jennifer
AU - Maldonado, Yvonne
AU - Chipato, Tsungai
AU - Shetty, Avinash K.
PY - 2005/10/1
Y1 - 2005/10/1
N2 - Objective: To examine the prevalence of psychological morbidity in HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant women seeking antenatal care in Zimbabwe. Methods: Pregnant women were screened for psychological morbidity at the initial antenatal care visit using the 14-item Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ) before voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT). The primary outcome measure was "cases," as determined by a SSQ score of= 8. Demographic characteristics and HIV status were compared between cases and noncases to determine the risk factors for psychological morbidity. Results: Of the 437 participants, psychological morbidity was detected in 73 (17%) women before undergoing VCT. Risk factors for psychological morbidity included having a spouse older than 35 years of age. HIV infection by itself was not a risk factor for psychological morbidity for women. Conclusions: There is a high burden of psychological morbidity among pregnant women in Zimbabwe. Mental health services should be integrated into antenatal care to improve psychological health for all women in Zimbabwe.
AB - Objective: To examine the prevalence of psychological morbidity in HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant women seeking antenatal care in Zimbabwe. Methods: Pregnant women were screened for psychological morbidity at the initial antenatal care visit using the 14-item Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ) before voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT). The primary outcome measure was "cases," as determined by a SSQ score of= 8. Demographic characteristics and HIV status were compared between cases and noncases to determine the risk factors for psychological morbidity. Results: Of the 437 participants, psychological morbidity was detected in 73 (17%) women before undergoing VCT. Risk factors for psychological morbidity included having a spouse older than 35 years of age. HIV infection by itself was not a risk factor for psychological morbidity for women. Conclusions: There is a high burden of psychological morbidity among pregnant women in Zimbabwe. Mental health services should be integrated into antenatal care to improve psychological health for all women in Zimbabwe.
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U2 - 10.1177/1545109706286555
DO - 10.1177/1545109706286555
M3 - Article
C2 - 16533796
AN - SCOPUS:33750100302
SN - 1545-1097
VL - 4
SP - 83
EP - 99
JO - Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care
JF - Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care
IS - 4
ER -
