Clinical and socio-demographic characteristics associated with perinatal depression and human immunodeficiency virus

Perinatal depression is highly prevalent in South Africa. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a known risk factor for depression, affects a large proportion of South African women of reproductive age. Few studies have compared depressive symptoms and associated risk factors in HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant and postpartum women, despite both conditions being linked to adverse maternal and child outcomes.

To compare socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in the perinatal period attending a maternal mental health clinic.

The maternal mental health clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg.

A retrospective record review was conducted on 190 patients (HIV-positive: n = 40; HIV-negative: n = 150) seen at the clinic between January 2024 and April 2025. Data were extracted from the clinic's REDCap database and analysed.

The prevalence of significant depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS] score > 13) was 43.2% (n = 82), regardless of HIV status. High rates of unplanned pregnancies (78.1%, n = 145), substance use in pregnancy (19.5%, n = 37), and intimate partner violence (15.1%, n = 28) were observed regardless of HIV status. Poor social support was significantly more prevalent among HIV-positive women (p = 0.042).

Perinatal depressive symptoms were highly prevalent. Human immunodeficiency virus-positive women were more likely to report poor social support, a key risk factor for depressive symptoms. The findings of this study underscore the need for targeted psychosocial interventions.

This study encourages further research to explore risk factors associated with perinatal depression, especially in HIV-positive women.