Locally contextualizing understandings of depression, the EPDS, and PHQ-9 among a sample of postpartum women living with HIV in Malawi.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) are widely used depression screening tools, yet perceptions and understandings of their questions and of depression are not well defined in cross-cultural research.

Methods

30 postpartum women living with HIV in Malawi were recruited from a cohort study and participated in in-depth cognitive interviews. Transcripts were evaluated following an inductive approach to identify common themes.

Results

Participants most frequently described looking sad or different than usual, self-isolation, 'thinking too much,' and anger as key symptoms of being depressed. HIV-associated stigma was commonly identified as a cause of depression. The EPDS and PHQ-9 were generally well underst

SUBMITTER: Harrington BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7855608 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature