Open AccessPersistent Food Insecurity, but not HIV, is Associated with Depressive Symptoms Among Perinatal Women in Kenya: A Longitudinal Perspective
Author(s) -
Emily L. Tuthill,
Ann E. Maltby,
Jalang Conteh,
Lila A Sheira,
Joshua D. Miller,
Maricianah Oo,
Sheri D. Weiser,
Sera L. Young
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aids and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.994
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1573-3254
pISSN - 1090-7165
DOI - 10.1007/s10461-020-03047-1
Subject(s) - medicine , depression (economics) , longitudinal study , psychological intervention , odds , depressive symptoms , public health , health psychology , food insecurity , logistic regression , cohort , cohort study , environmental health , demography , food security , psychiatry , anxiety , economics , macroeconomics , agriculture , nursing , pathology , ecology , sociology , biology
Food insecurity (FI) is an understudied risk factor for depression among perinatal women in sub-Saharan Africa. We therefore explored the longitudinal relationship between FI and depressive symptoms among a cohort of perinatal women of mixed HIV status (n = 371) in Kenya (NCT02974972, NCT02979418). Using longitudinal linear and logistic regressions with random effects, we assessed bivariate and adjusted associations between maternal FI and depressive symptoms. HIV status was also assessed as a potential effect modifier. At baseline, 58% of pregnant women had probable depression (CES-D score > 16) and 84% were severely food insecure. In adjusted analyses, severely food-insecure women had 5.90 greater odds (95% CI 2.32, 15.02, p < 0.001) of having probable depression and scored 4.58 points higher on the CES-D scale (SE: 1.04, p < 0.001) relative to food-secure women. HIV status did not modify the association between FI and depressive symptoms. Interventions to reduce FI may reduce perinatal depression, benefiting mothers and their infants.