Psychosocial Variables Associated with Coping of HIV-Positive Women Diagnosed During Pregnancy

Abstract

In order to identify the psychosocial factors related to the use of coping strategies by HIV-positive women diagnosed during pregnancy, four structured interviews were conducted over a period of two years with 224 HIV-positive women at antenatal clinics in Tshwane, South Africa. Two coping styles, active and avoidant coping, were assessed using an adapted version of the Brief COPE. Psychosocial variables associated with changes in coping over time were identified with mixed linear analysis. Increases in active coping were associated with decreasing levels of internalised stigma and depression, increasing self-esteem and positive social support, knowing someone who is living with HIV, being physically healthy and living above the poverty line. Increases in avoidant coping were associated with increasing internalised stigma and depression, lower levels of self-esteem, HIV-knowledge and lower levels of education. Recommendations are made for psychological support services to strengthen women’s ability to cope to enhance their health and that of their infants.

Testing direct and moderating effects of coping styles on the relationship between perceived stress and antenatal anxiety symptoms

“…Researchers studying how people cope with pregnancy have most often considered women experiencing high-risk, complicated pregnancies such as HIV-positive pregnancies [26], pregnancies with fetal abnormalities [27] or pregnancies with a history of recurrent miscarriage [28]. Few studies have focused on the general pregnant population [29].…”

Coping Strategies for HIV-Related Stigma in Liuzhou, China

“…These effects, however, have been shown to be moderated by the abilities of PLHIV to cope with their illness and its associated stigma, as well as by the amount of social support they have available (12–14,17,18). Serostatus disclosure both affects and is affected by the quality and amount of available social support (14,18–20).…”

“…Serostatus disclosure both affects and is affected by the quality and amount of available social support (14,18–20). While garnering social support can serve as one coping strategy to reduce stigma, the role of family and community, as well as stigma, are highly contextually based.…”

“…In U.S. studies in general, PLHIV who use problem-focused tactics have been shown to be less distressed than those using passive coping approaches (20,22). In non-Chinese populations, coping strategies used to address HIV-associated stigma have been found to change over time after initial diagnosis (18). …”

Spousal role and caregiver burden in HIV affected families in Anhui Province, China

“…The finding is consistent with previous studies conducted among caregivers of heart failure patients (Bozkurt Zincir et al, 2014). Higher educational level is correlated with more resources in terms of income, information, and support network, which may influence one’s ability to perform problem-solving focused coping; on the contrary, people with less education are more likely to adopt negative coping strategies and more prone to mental distress and burden (Chen et al, 2016; Kotzé, Visser, Makin, Sikkema, & Forsyth, 2012). Future programs should take education level of its audience into consideration in designing simplified intervention and organized tasks to help reduce caregiver burden.…”