Exploring the relationship between established HIV risk factors and depressive symptoms amongst young women without HIV in two sites in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Adolescent girls are at high risk for depression and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. Poor mental health can increase vulnerability to risky sexual behaviours. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of depressive symptomology and explore the convergence of HIV risk factors with depressive symptoms amongst cis-gender adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and peri-urban Western Cape (WC) communities in South Africa.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey data from two sites in South Africa was used - the rural Vulindlela community in KZN and the peri-urban Philippi East community in the WC. Study inclusion criteria included being sexually active with at least one male partner, and not planning to relocate in the nex

SUBMITTER: Gumbi Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11778764 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature