The overlapping shadows of depression and HIV/AIDS on South Africa's young women

Abstract

Adolescent girls and pregnant HIV-positive women in rural South Africa are particularly vulnerable to depression. Recent research suggests that depression is a risk factor for HIV infection among young girls and increases the risk for mother-to-child transmission among HIV-positive pregnant women. Providing mental-health services to these groups is a public health and social-justice imperative and a critical step in reducing HIV infections.