The Impact of Structured Support Groups for Pregnant South African Women Recently Diagnosed HIV Positive

• Published in: Women & health 2011-08, Vol.51 (6), p.546-565
• Main Authors: Mundell, Jonathan P., Visser, Maretha J., Makin, Jennifer D., Kershaw, Trace S., Forsyth, Brian W. C., Jeffery, Bridget, Sikkema, Kathleen J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Avoidance Learning; Case-Control Studies; Coping; Female; Females; Follow-Up Studies; Health Resources; HIV; HIV Seropositivity - psychology; HIV/AIDS; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Intervention; Medical diagnosis; mental health; Poverty; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - psychology; psychosocial; Regression Analysis; Self Concept; Self Disclosure; Self Esteem; Self Help Groups; Social Support; South Africa; Support groups; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0363-0242; 1541-0331
• DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2011.606356

The authors of this study evaluated a structured 10-session psychosocial support group intervention for newly HIV-diagnosed pregnant South African women. Participants were expected to display increases in HIV disclosure, self-esteem, active coping and positive social support, and decreases in depression, avoidant coping, and negative social support. Three hundred sixty-one pregnant HIV-infected women were recruited from four antenatal clinics in Tshwane townships from April 2005 to September 2006. Using a quasi-experimental design, assessments were conducted at baseline and two and eight months post-intervention. A series of random effects regression analyses were conducted, with the three assessment points treated as a random effect of time. At both follow-ups, the rate of disclosure in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the comparison group (p < 0.001). Compared to the comparison group at the first follow-up, the intervention group displayed higher levels of active coping (t = 2.68, p < 0.05) and lower levels of avoidant coping (t = −2.02, p < 0.05), and those who attended at least half of the intervention sessions exhibited improved self-esteem (t = 2.11, p < 0.05). Group interventions tailored for newly HIV positive pregnant women, implemented in resource-limited settings, may accelerate the process of adjusting to one's HIV status, but may not have sustainable benefits over time.