Support for Perinatal Adherence and Depression

Adherence to ART during the previous month was measured through a composite score developed by Lu et al. (2008). The composite score combines the scores of three items into a single self-reported adherence score; the three items assess medication use frequency, percentage of time that the medication was taken as prescribed, and a rating of one's ability to take prescribed medication. The percent item had 11 response categories (0, 10, 20…100%), whereas the frequency and ability items had six response categories that were assigned scores of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100, with 100 considered to be perfect adherence.

Objective ART adherence data were collected using the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS), which comprises a pill bottle with a digitized cap that measures and records when the bottle was opened each day. MEMS timepoints were defined as average MEMS use across the two-week period prior to each of the three assessment visits.

The 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to measure depressive symptoms at baseline, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up; higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms. The minimum possible score is 0, and maximum score is 30. A standard clinical cutoff of 13 on the EPDS was used to distinguish women with and without probable depression.

Current and past major depressive disorder was measured using the 17-item Major Depressive Episode Module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). If an individual indicates either that they were "consistently depressed or down, most of the day, nearly every day for the past two weeks" or that they were "less interested in doing most things or less able to enjoy the things that they used to enjoy most of the time," they are asked about 7 symptoms of depression. To meet criteria for a current major depressive episode, at least three symptoms must be endorsed.

HIV-related stigma was measured at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up using the HIV/AIDS Stigma Instrument - People Living with AIDS (HASI-P). Three sub-scales from the full scale were used: negative self-perception (5 items), social isolation (5 items), and verbal abuse (8 items). Responses are rated on a four-point Likert scale from "never" (0) to "most of the time" (3). Subscale score ranges were 0-15 (negative self-perception and social isolation) and 0-24 (verbal abuse); subscale scores were summed to compute a total score (range 0-54). Higher scores indicate higher levels of stigma.

Social support was assessed using a modified version of the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, a 10-item scale evaluating availability of emotional, informational, and tangible support. Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale; number of persons providing support is also assessed. The maximum possible score is 40 and minimum score is 0; higher scores indicate greater perceived social support.