Psychosocial support programs for HIV-positive women who are pregnant

Key take-home messages

• Pregnant women with HIV have distinct psychosocial needs that must be addressed.
• Very little research has investigated the most effective means of delivering psychosocial support to pregnant women with HIV.
• Preliminary results from low- and middle-income countries have shown that providing psychosocial support, either individually or in groups, when delivered by competent and knowledgeable providers improves self-efficacy, self-esteem and self-care and improves health outcomes for mother and child.
• The majority of research related to counseling for pregnant women with HIV has focused either on testing or on infant nutrition — the goal of both is to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

• Determinants of Health
  • Social support
• Population(s)
  • Women
  • General HIV+ population
• Prevention
  • Biomedical interventions