Depression in HIV-positive women in Gaborone, Botswana

This cross-sectional study measured prevalence of depression and suicide ideation in 62 randomly selected HIV-positive (HIV+) women in Botswana, a resource-limited country at the center of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. They were administered two screening measures of depression, an inventory of activities of daily living (ADL), and subjective questionnaire of cognitive functioning. Results show that the two screening measures are useful for detecting depression in women infected with HIV in resource-limited countries. Diagnosis of depression is of great importance, not only clinically, but also to ensure judicious allocation of scarce medical resources in the regions worst affected by the HIV epidemic.