Anxiety, depression, and their relationship with marital satisfaction in Mexican pregnant women living with HIV

Introduction: In Mexico, the National Survey of Psychiatric Epidemiology (ENEP) in 2012, refers that 9.2% of the general population suffered an affective disorder at some point in life, the highest frequency was observed in women (10.4%) while in men (5.4%). In pregnancy, the prevalence of depression is higher compared to the general population (22 to 37%). Marital satisfaction during pregnancy may experience fluctuations due to such psycho-emotional conditions, at the same time, the physical and hormonal changes of the woman, as well as the alteration in the dynamics of the relationship with the partner suppose factors that violate the well-being and marital satisfaction, putting at risk the stability of the couple relationship. Methods Cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study that included pregnant women with HIV who presented traits of anxiety and depression. A psychometric battery was applied consisting of: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and the Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS Spanish version). Results 60 patients were recruited and divided into 2 groups (HIV + and HIV-). Anxiety and depression levels were similar in both groups ( p  > 0.05) but HIV + patients showed lower marital satisfaction ( p  = 0.051) related to the increase of depressive traits (ρ= -0.33, p  < 0.001). Conclusions HIV status during pregnancy may increase the possibility of presenting trait/state anxiety traits and depression, a condition related to major marital dissatisfaction. Clinical Trial Number: 2017-3-128.