Experience and Covariates of Depressive Symptoms Among a Cohort of HIV Infected Women

Abstract
Objectives: The objectives of this study are to assess (a) the level of depressive symptoms among a cohort of HIV infected women and comparable controls and (b) the relationship with covariates including socioeconomic status, substance use, social relations, disease status. Methods: Participants were enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD). Data from 1993 HIV seropositive and 551 seronegative women are presented. Results: Of HIV positive women 57.7% of HIV positive women scored 16 or higher on the CESD (ns) as compared to 55.0% of HIV negative women; at a cutoff of 23, the percents were 40.4% and 35.9% respectively (p = .06). The mean score was high 19.8 but not significantly different between groups. Scores were higher among women who had less education, lower income, were of Hispanic ethnicity, used alcohol or drugs, experienced domestic abuse, had more than one partner, or had l...

This publication has 32 references indexed in Scilit: