Mother-Child Interaction in the Presence of Maternal HIV Infection

Abstract

This comparative study evaluated mother-child interaction in southeastern U.S. mother-child dyads where the mother was HIV positive and determined if the presence of maternal HIV infection was associated with differences in the quality of the mother-child interaction. A comparison was made between two groups of mother-child dyads, one where the mother was HIV positive (N = 25) and one where the mother was not HIV positive (N = 25). The Barnard model of mother-infant interaction guided this study. The quality of interaction within the dyads was assessed using the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scales (NCATS). Associated maternal, child, and environmental factors were described using an interview form, Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener. The quality of mother-child interaction in the two groups was compared using chi square and paired t tests. Findings from this research showed no statistically significant difference in mother-child interaction (measured by NCATS) between the HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups. Although maternal symptoms of depression were noted in more of the HIV-positive mothers, covariant analysis failed to show this factor had any significant influence on mother-child interaction scores between the groups. It was noted that total sample (N = 50) group mean scores on NCATS maternal subscale and total interaction were significantly lower than published population norms. As the mother-child interaction has critical implications for the child, strategies to improve reciprocity need to be developed in this population, and attention must be paid to mental health needs of HIV-positive women.

Psychological Differences Between HIV‐Positive Mothers Who Disclose to All, Some, or None of Their Biological Children

“…These effects are clearly evident in the literature. For example, mothers who are HIV-positive are more likely to be clinically depressed than mothers who are HIV-negative (Johnson & Lobo, 2001). HIV-positive mothers also face a unique set of stressors in coping with their diagnosis and deciding whether or not to disclose their serostatus to their children.…”

Effects of Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Infant Gender on the Interactions Between Mothers and Their Medically At-Risk Infants

“…Many HIV‐positive mothers exhibited elevated depressive symptoms as a response to their diagnosis with a life‐threatening illness, their symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and gynecologic problems (Hudson et al, 2004; Miles, Burchinal, Holditch‐Davis, Wasilewski, & Christian, 1997), and their social problems such as poverty, social isolation, and stigma (Catz, Gore‐Felton, & McClure, 2002; Schrimshaw, 2003). HIV‐positive mothers reported higher depressive symptoms than HIV‐negative mothers (Morrison et al, 2002; Richardson et al, 2001), and HIV‐positive mothers have been shown to be less affectionate and less verbally responsive to their children than HIV‐negative mothers (Johnson & Lobe, 2001; Kotchick, Forehand, Brody, Armistead, & Morse, 1997; Murphy et al, 2002; Reyland, McMahon, Higgins‐Delessandro, & Luthar, 2002). HIV‐positive mothers reported that poverty and being single parents had a more negative influence on their parenting than did their HIV status (Swartz et al, 1998).…”

Major Depression Among Pregnant Mothers With Hiv: Correlates and Suggested Interventions

“…According to Murphy 7 et al, 51% of the mothers with HIV infection met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for a psychological disorder in the preceding year. Posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression [8][9] are the most commonly diagnosed psychological disorders among women with HIV infection.…”