244282 Depression as a barrier to appropriate HIV care among women of color

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 5:30 PM

Lynne C. Messer, PhD , Duke Global Health Institute, Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC
Evelyn Byrd Quinlivan, MD , Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Heather Parnell, MSW , Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC
Katya Roytburd, MPH , Center for Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Background. Women of color (WOC) are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, in terms of infection, mortality, and risk of being lost to care. We explore the role of depression, trauma, and ongoing partner psychological abuse as possible barriers to retention of WOC in HIV care.

Methods. Baseline data were collected from 179 unique (335 total interviews) HIV+ WOC at a large university's infectious diseases clinic (April-December, 2010). Interviewers asked validated questions related to depression, trauma, psychological abuse and demographics (age, education, employment, insurance status), among others. Linear regression models generated beta coefficients and 95% confidence intervals for the correlates of depression.

Results. WOC were approximately equally distributed across education categories (less than, high school, more than high school) and 65 percent (%) were under 50 years old. Ten (10%) were in non-permanent housing and the vast majority (70%) was unemployed. Correlations between depression and the abuse scales were moderate (r=0.3). In models containing sociodemographic variables only, unemployment and low education were significantly associated with increased depression scores. In models including trauma, both child and adult trauma were associated with increased depression and the sociodemographics were reduced to statistical non-significance. Ongoing partner psychological abuse was also associated with higher depression scores.

Conclusion. Depression is a barrier preventing HIV(+) people from adhering to medical care. Experiences with past trauma and current psychological abuse by WOC are associated with increased levels of depression. Identifying the determinants and co-conditions for depression may be important in caring for this population.

Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1.Identify the sociodemographic factors associated with depression among HIV+ women of color 2.Identify the abuse-related correlates associated with increased depression scores among HIV+ women of color 3.Explain how qualitative data can be used to complement quantitative findings

Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, Depression

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am the evaluator of the Guide to Healing project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: HIV/AIDS & Mental Health
See more of: HIV/AIDS