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

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Moseholm ◽  
Inka Aho ◽  
Åsa Mellgren ◽  
Gitte Pedersen ◽  
Terese L. Katzenstein ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The success of antiretroviral therapy has normalized pregnancy among women living with HIV (WWH) with a very low risk of perinatal transmission of HIV. Despite these advances, WWH still face complex medical and psychosocial issues during pregnancy and postpartum. The aim of this study was to assess differences in psychosocial health outcomes between pregnant WWH, non-pregnant WWH, and pregnant women without HIV, and further identify factors associated with probable depression in the third trimester and postpartum. Methods In a longitudinal survey study, participants were included from sites in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden during 2019–2020. Data was collected in the 3rd trimester, 3 and 6 months postpartum using standardized questionnaires assessing depression, perceived stress, loneliness, and social support. Mixed regression models were used to assess changes over time within and between groups. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with depression in pregnancy and postpartum. Results A total of 47 pregnant WWH, 75 non-pregnant WWH, and 147 pregnant women without HIV were included. The prevalence of depression was high among both pregnant and non-pregnant WWH. There was no significant difference between pregnant and non-pregnant WWH in depression scores, perceived stress scores, or social support scores at any time point. Compared to pregnant women without HIV, pregnant WWH reported worse outcomes on all psychosocial scales. Social support and loneliness were associated with an increased odds of depressive symptoms in the adjusted analysis. Conclusions A high burden of adverse psychosocial outcomes was observed in both pregnant and non-pregnant women living with HIV compared to pregnant women without HIV. Loneliness and inadequate social support were associated with increased odds of depression in pregnancy and should be a focus in future support interventions.

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (57) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelise Rigoni de Faria ◽  
Tonantzin Ribeiro Gonçalves ◽  
Fernanda Torres de Carvalho ◽  
Rita de Cássia Sobreira Lopes ◽  
Cesar Augusto Piccinini

Pregnant women living with HIV (PWLH) face tremendous challenges in order to prevent their babies’ infection. Coping is a potential buffer against negative outcomes from these challenges. This study aims to describe coping strategies of PWLH. This cross-sectional survey involved 77 PWLH from a public health care center in Brazil. Coping was measured for three types of strategies: Problem-focused, Emotion-focused, and Relationship support. Multivariate analyses identified some coping predictors. Being employed, reporting religious practice and higher CD4/immunity were associated with Problem-focused coping. Lower educational level was associated with Emotion-focused strategies. Relationship support strategies were more likely to be reported by PWLH who had good social support, who had disclosed HIV status to the baby’s father, and who knew their infection before pregnancy. Findings underline the need for HIV interventions focused on social support and participation by the baby’s father, with particular attention to those PWLH who were recently diagnosed and economically vulnerable.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e027761
Author(s):  
Ellen Moseholm ◽  
Micheal D Fetters ◽  
Inka Aho ◽  
Åsa Mellgren ◽  
Isik S Johansen ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe success of combination antiretroviral therapy has decreased the risk of perinatal HIV transmission and normalised pregnancy in women living with HIV (WLWH). Despite these advances, WLWH still face complex medical and psychosocial issues during pregnancy and postpartum, and there is a gap of knowledge on the experiences of becoming and being a mother living with HIV in today’s context. The overall aim of this study is to investigate psychosocial outcomes and experiences of WLWH in Scandinavia during pregnancy and early motherhood.Methods and analysisThis is a multicentre longitudinal convergent mixed methods study consisting of a quantitative survey study, a qualitative interview study and a mixed methods analysis. The survey study aims to examine psychosocial outcomes of WLWH across the pregnancy – postpartum trajectory. Participants are pregnant WLWH living in Scandinavia. Two control groups of HIV-negative pregnant women and non-pregnant WLWH are also included. Data is collected in the third trimester, 3 and 6 months postpartum using standardised questionnaires. Statistical analysis will assess changes over time and identify predictors of adverse outcomes. The interview study seeks to understand experiences of pregnancy and becoming a mother while living with HIV. Pregnant WLWH who are enrolled in the survey study will be asked to participate in individual interviews in the third trimester and 6 months postpartum. Data will be analysed using narrative analysis. The survey and interview results will be merged in a mixed methods analysis to assess confirmation, expansion or discordance between the data sets.Ethics and disseminationApproval from the Danish Data Protection Agency (VD-2018–253), and the Finnish and Swedish Ethics Committees have been obtained (HUS/1330/2019 and Dnr: 2019–04451, respectively). Study results will be disseminated to patient organisations, through publications in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Supalak Phonphithak ◽  
Narin Hiransuthikul ◽  
Penchan Pradubmook Sherer ◽  
Sasithorn Bureechai

PurposeThis aim of this study was to explore the experiences of stigmatization and coping mechanisms during pregnancy among pregnant women who are living with HIV in Thailand. The secondary objective was to determine factors contributing to stigma during motherhood among HIV-infected women as well as explore how they cope with the discrimination from society.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews to obtain different versions of stigmatized experience from 16 pregnant women living with HIV on stigmatization and coping mechanisms. There were 5 pregnant adolescents living with HIV and 11 adult pregnant women living with HIV. The content analysis was used to examine patterns of stigmatizations and attributed factors.FindingsPersonal stigma was found among pregnant women living with HIV regardless of age. HIV status disclosure was the crucial barrier of accessing to care for people experiencing stigmatizations. Personal stigma associated with higher HIV status was not disclosed. Interestingly, all teenage mothers who participated in this study disclosed their HIV-status to their family. People who have social support especially from family and significant others are found to be able to cope and get through the difficulties better than those who lack those social support.Originality/valueThis study yields outcomes similar to several other studies that have been conducted either in Thailand or other countries. This study found that family support was crucial in reducing HIV stigma. Furthermore, HIV-infected pregnant female adults were more afraid to disclose their HIV status to their husbands, other family members and their work colleagues.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S32-S33
Author(s):  
Brigid O’Brien ◽  
Paige Williams ◽  
Deborah Kacanek ◽  
Ellen Chadwick ◽  
Kathleen Powis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background With improved treatment, women living with HIV (WLHIV) are increasingly becoming pregnant. Studies have shown suboptimal viral suppression following pregnancy. In addition, protease inhibitors (PI) have been associated with preterm birth (PTB). Methods We studied WLHIV with at least 2 live births while on the PHACS SMARTT study. We first compared CD4 counts and viral loads (VL) between the first and second pregnancies using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. We then examined trends in these measures over all reported pregnancies using mixed-effect linear regression models adjusting for maternal age and birth year, with a random effect to account for repeated measures in the same woman over time. Finally, we evaluated the association of PI or non-PI use during pregnancy with PTB, using GEE logistic regression models to adjust for pregnancy number, maternal age, and birth year. Results Between 2007 and 2018, 699 women had >1 pregnancy while on study, with a total of 1642 children. Their mean CD4 counts remained stable over repeat pregnancies. Their mean log10 VL decreased between the first and second pregnancies, both early and late in pregnancy (–0.42 cp/mL and –0.16 cp/mL respectively, P < 0.001 for each), but increased by 0.61 cp/mL (P < 0.001) between the end of the first pregnancy and early in the next pregnancy. Most women had VL suppression during pregnancy with VL rebound by the next pregnancy (figure). A majority of women (55%) received a PI in both their first and second pregnancies, with an increase in PTB rate of 4.3%, whereas those who changed from a PI to a non-PI had a decrease of 4.7% (table). Changing to a PI resulted in a stable rate, whereas remaining on a non-PI resulted in a drop of 2%. In adjusted models including all pregnancies, first trimester PI use was associated with an increased rate of PTB (adjusted OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.02, 1.97). Conclusion Most WLHIV achieved VL suppression during pregnancy, but many had a VL rebound after pregnancy. First trimester PI use was associated with higher risk of PTB. Disclosures E. Chadwick, Abbott Labs: Shareholder, stock dividends. AbbVie: Shareholder, stock dividends. R. B. Van Dyke, Giliad Sciences: Grant Investigator, Research grant.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 556-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.M. Hodel ◽  
C. Marzolini ◽  
C. Waitt ◽  
N. Rakhmanina

Background:Remarkable progress has been achieved in the identification of HIV infection in pregnant women and in the prevention of vertical HIV transmission through maternal antiretroviral treatment (ART) and neonatal antiretroviral drug (ARV) prophylaxis in the last two decades. Millions of women globally are receiving combination ART throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, periods associated with significant biological and physiological changes affecting the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of ARVs. The objective of this review was to summarize currently available knowledge on the PK of ARVs during pregnancy and transport of maternal ARVs through the placenta and into the breast milk. We also summarized main safety considerations for in utero and breast milk ARVs exposures in infants.Methods:We conducted a review of the pharmacological profiles of ARVs in pregnancy and during breastfeeding obtained from published clinical studies. Selected maternal PK studies used a relatively rich sampling approach at each ante- and postnatal sampling time point. For placental and breast milk transport of ARVs, we selected the studies that provided ratios of maternal to the cord (M:C) plasma and breast milk to maternal plasma (M:P) concentrations, respectively.Results:We provide an overview of the physiological changes during pregnancy and their effect on the PK parameters of ARVs by drug class in pregnancy, which were gathered from 45 published studies. The PK changes during pregnancy affect the dosing of several protease inhibitors during pregnancy and limit the use of several ARVs, including three single tablet regimens with integrase inhibitors or protease inhibitors co-formulated with cobicistat due to suboptimal exposures. We further analysed the currently available data on the mechanism of the transport of ARVs from maternal plasma across the placenta and into the breast milk and summarized the effect of pregnancy on placental and of breastfeeding on mammal gland drug transporters, as well as physicochemical properties, C:M and M:P ratios of individual ARVs by drug class. Finally, we discussed the major safety issues of fetal and infant exposure to maternal ARVs.Conclusions:Available pharmacological data provide evidence that physiological changes during pregnancy affect maternal, and consequently, fetal ARV exposure. Limited available data suggest that the expression of drug transporters may vary throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding thereby possibly impacting the amount of ARV crossing the placenta and secreted into the breast milk. The drug transporter’s role in the fetal/child exposure to maternal ARVs needs to be better understood. Our analysis underscores the need for more pharmacological studies with innovative study design, sparse PK sampling, improved study data reporting and PK modelling in pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV to optimize their treatment choices and maternal and child health outcomes.


Author(s):  
Ashish Premkumar ◽  
Lynn M. Yee ◽  
Lia Benes ◽  
Emily S. Miller

Objective The aim of this study was to assess whether social vulnerability among foreign-born pregnant women living with HIV is associated with maternal viremia during pregnancy. Study Design This retrospective cohort study included all foreign-born pregnant women living with HIV who received prenatal care in a multidisciplinary prenatal clinic between 2009 and 2018. A licensed clinical social worker evaluated all women and kept detailed clinical records on immigration status and social support. Social vulnerability was defined as both living in the United States for less than 5 years and reporting no family or friends for support. The primary outcome was evidence of viral non-suppression after achievement of initial suppression. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of women who required > 12 weeks after starting antiretroviral therapy to achieve viral suppression, median time to first viral suppression (in weeks) after initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and the proportion who missed ≥ 5 doses of antiretroviral therapy. Bivariable analyses were performed. Results A total of 111 foreign-born women were eligible for analysis, of whom 25 (23%) were classified as socially vulnerable. Social and clinical characteristics of women diverged by social vulnerability categorization but no differences reached statistical significance. On bivariable analysis, socially-vulnerable women were at increased risk for needing > 12 weeks to achieve viral suppression (relative risk: 1.78, 95% confidence interval: 1.18–2.67), though there was no association with missing ≥ 5 doses of antiretroviral therapy or median time to viral suppression after initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Conclusion Among foreign-born, pregnant women living with HIV, markers of virologic control during pregnancy were noted to be worse among socially-vulnerable women. Insofar as maternal viremia is the predominant driver of perinatal transmission, closer clinical surveillance and support may be indicated in this population. Key Points


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