Psychological Distress Patterns of Women and Mothers Presenting for HIV-Related Mental Health Care

ABSTRACT

Over a seven year period, data were collected from 228 women living with HIV upon their self-enrollment into mental health care at an HIV-related mental health clinic. Analyses were conducted to explore the symptoms of mental health distress being presented by women upon their enrollment into care and, in particular, associations between these symptoms and characteristics of motherhood. Findings suggest that women living with HIV present for care with significant levels of psychological distress symptoms and that factors related to parenthood are associated with diverse clinical presentations. As an increasingly prevalent component of the HIV social services system, women living with HIV are in need of access to services that are responsive to their unique mental health issues and that are based upon an understanding of the extent to which familial variables influence psychological distress.

Key Words:

• HIV
• mental health care
• women
• mothers