An assessment of anxiety and depression among HIV-positive pregnant women in a tertiary hospital located in southeast Nigeria: a cross-sectional comparative analysis

Background: The periods of pregnancy are critical for the mental well-being of women. HIV positive pregnant women are especially vulnerable to experiencing depression and anxiety. Aim: To determine the prevalence and determinant of depression and anxiety among HIV-positive and HIV negative pregnant women in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Nigeria. Materials and methods: Between January 1 and May 30, 2024, 342 HIV-positive pregnant individuals and an equivalent number of HIV-negative prenatal attendees participated in a cross-sectional survey conducted at NAUTH in Nnewi. A structured questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment, and the Patient Health Questionnaire were used to interview the subjects. IBM Statistical Package for Social Science version 26 was used to analyze the data, and a significance level of less than 0.05 was chosen. Results: The research involved 684 participants, all of whom screened positive for anxiety and depression. The average scores for anxiety in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women were 16.8 ± 3.8 compared to 8.7 ± 2.3; P