Incidence and Persistence of Depression Among Women Living with and Without HIV in South Africa: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Depression and trauma are common among women living with HIV. This is the first study to track the longitudinal course of depression and examine the relationship between depression and trauma over time among women in South Africa. HIV-infected and uninfected women (N = 148) were assessed at baseline and one year later. Results of a path analysis show the multi-directional and entwined influence of early life stress, other life-threatening traumas across the lifespan, depression and PTSD over the course of HIV. We also observed higher rates of depressive symptomatology and more persistent cases among infected women compared to uninfected women, as well as a more consistent and enduring relationship between childhood trauma and depression among women living with HIV. The present study is unique in documenting the course of untreated depression and PTSD in women with and without HIV infection with a high prevalence of early childhood trauma.

Keywords: Childhood trauma; Depression; HIV; PTSD.

Fig. 1

Conceptual framework

Fig. 2

PLS SEM. CTQ childhood trauma, DTS (baseline) PTSD at baseline, DTS (FU) PTSD at follow-up, CESD (baseline) depression at baseline, CESD (FU) depression at follow-up, LE (baseline) traumatic life experiences at baseline, LE (FU) traumatic life experiences at follow-up, Edu highest level of education, employ current employment status, marital marital status, income1 combined annual household income