Evaluation of human immunodeficiency virus-adapted group prenatal care

Efforts to further decrease perinatal transmission of HIV include efforts to improve engagement and retention in prenatal care. Group prenatal care has been reported to have benefits in certain other high-risk groups of pregnant women but has not been previously evaluated in pregnant women living with HIV.

This study aimed to evaluate changes in HIV knowledge, stigma, social support, depression, self-efficacy, and medication adherence after HIV-adapted group prenatal care.

All women living with HIV who presented for prenatal care at ≤30 weeks' gestation in Harris Health System (Houston, TX) between September 2013 and December 2017 were offered either group or individual HIV-focused prenatal care. Patients were recruited for the study at their initial prenatal visit. HIV topics, such as HIV facts, disclosure, medication adherence, safe sex and conception, retention in care, and postdelivery baby testing, were added to the standard CenteringPregnancy curriculum (ten 2-hour sessions per pregnancy). Knowledge and attitudes toward factors associated with adherence to HIV treatment regimens (stigma, loneliness, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms) were compared on written pre- and postsurveys. Surveys included 58 items derived from validated scales, with Likert and dichotomous responses. McNemar's test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and paired t-tests compared pre- and postsurvey responses.

A total of 190 women living with HIV received prenatal care in the clinic during the study period, 93 (49%) of whom participated in CenteringHIV. A total of 66 Centering participants enrolled in the study and 42 of those completed the pre- and postsurveys. Among women in the Centering program who completed pre- and postsurveys, significant differences were noted with improved perceived social support from family (P=.011) and friends (P=.005), decreased depression (Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale, ≥10; 43% vs 18%; P<.001; Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale score mean (standard deviation), 9.3 (5.8) pre vs 5.2 (4.9) post; P<.001), and decreased missed medication doses related to depressed mood (P=.014). No statistically significant differences were noted in HIV knowledge, HIV stigma, attitude, or self-efficacy.

HIV-focused group prenatal care may positively affect perceived social support and depression scores, factors that are closely associated with antiretroviral adherence and retention in the care for pregnant women living with HIV.