Phone-based psychosocial counseling for people living with HIV: Feasibility, acceptability and impact on uptake of psychosocial counseling services in Malawi.

People living with HIV experience psychosocial needs that often are not addressed. We designed an innovative low-resource model of phone-based psychosocial counseling (P-PSC). We describe cohort characteristics, acceptability, feasibility and utilization of P-PSC at health facilities supported by Baylor Foundation Malawi. Staff were virtually oriented at 120 sites concurrently. From facility-based phones, people with new HIV diagnosis, high viral load, treatment interruption or mental health concerns were referred without identifiable personal information to 13 psychosocial counselors via a WhatsApp group. Routine program data were retrospectively analyzed using univariate approaches and regressions with interrupted time series analyses. Clients utilizing P-PSC were 63% female, 25% youth (10-24 y) and 9% children (<10 y). They were referred from all 120 supported health facilities. Main referral reasons included new HIV diagnosis (32%), ART adherence support (32%) and treatment interruption (21%). Counseling was completed for 99% of referrals. Counseling sessions per month per psychosocial counselor increased from 77 before P-PSC to 216 in month 1 (95% CI = 82, 350, p = 0.003). Total encounters increased significantly to 31,642 in year 1 from ~6,000 during the 12 prior months, an over fivefold increase. P-PSC implementation at 120 remote facilities was acceptable and feasible with immediate, increased utilization despite few psychosocial counselors in Malawi.

Intervention Fidelity to VITAL Start (Video Intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life) in a Randomized Controlled Trial Among Women Living With HIV in Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Intervention effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial is attributed to intervention fidelity. Measuring fidelity has increasing significance to intervention research and validity. The purpose of this article is to describe a systematic assessment of intervention fidelity for VITAL Start (Video intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life)-a 27-minute video-based intervention designed to improve antiretroviral therapy adherence among pregnant and breastfeeding women. METHOD: Research Assistants (RAs) delivered VITAL Start to participants after enrolment. The VITAL Start intervention had three components: a pre-video orientation, video viewing, and post-video counseling. Fidelity assessments using checklists comprised self (RA assessment) and observer (Research Officers, also known as ROs) assessment. Four fidelity domains (adherence, dose, quality of delivery, and participant responsiveness) were evaluated. Score scale ranges were 0 to 29 adherence, 0 to 3 dose, 0 to 48 quality of delivery and 0 to 8 participant responsiveness. Fidelity scores were calculated. Descriptive statistics summarizing the scores were performed. RESULTS: In total, eight RAs delivered 379 VITAL Start sessions to 379 participants. Four ROs observed and assessed 43 (11%) intervention sessions. The mean scores were 28 (SD = 1.3) for adherence, 3 (SD = 0) for dose, 40 (SD = 8.6) for quality of delivery, and 10.4 (SD = 1.3) for participant responsiveness. CONCLUSION: Overall, the RAs successfully delivered the VITAL Start intervention with high fidelity. Intervention fidelity monitoring should be an important element of randomized control trial design of specific interventions to ensure having reliable study results.

The prevalence, incidence, and recurrence of intimate partner violence and its association with adverse childhood experiences among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV in Malawi.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with suboptimal HIV treatment outcomes, but its distribution and risk factors among certain subpopulations of people living with HIV in resource-limited settings are not well known. We examined the prevalence, incidence, and recurrence of IPV and its association with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among pregnant/breastfeeding women living with HIV in Malawi. Methods: This study used longitudinal data for 455 pregnant women living with HIV continuously enrolled in the VITAL Start trial. IPV was assessed at baseline and months 1, 6, and 12 using the widely validated WHO IPV survey. Forms of IPV assessed were physical IPV, emotional IPV, and sexual IPV measured as prevalence, incidence, and recurrence. ACE histories were assessed using WHO's ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) tool. Logistic and log-binomial regressions were used in multivariable analyses that controlled for factors such as depression and alcohol use. Results: Participants' mean age was 27.6 ± 5.7 years. Forty-three percent (43%) reported IPV prevalence, 13% reported IPV incidence, and another 13% reported IPV recurrence, with emotional IPV being the most commonly reported IPV type. Over 96% reported experiencing ⩾1 ACE. In regression analysis, cumulative ACE scores were significantly associated with IPV prevalence and IPV recurrence and in both cases, the magnitude of association was greatest for sexual IPV compared with physical IPV and emotional IPV. ACE scores were not significantly associated with IPV incidence. Conclusions: IPV is highly prevalent among pregnant women living with HIV and continues to occur throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period; its graded relationship with ACEs is a concern in resource-limited settings where HIV/AIDS remains a public health concern. Strategies aimed to address the needs of pregnant/breastfeeding women living with HIV may benefit from the regular screening of this population for IPV and ACE, including in antenatal care clinics.

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and common mental disorders among pregnant women living with HIV in Malawi.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to common mental disorders (CMDs) such as anxiety and depressive thoughts. We examined the prevalence of ACEs and their association with CMDs among pregnant women living with HIV (PWLHIV) in Malawi-an HIV endemic resource-limited setting. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 798 PWLHIV enrolled in the VITAL Start trial in Malawi (10/2018 to 06/2021) (NCT03654898). ACE histories were assessed using WHO's Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) tool. Depressive symptoms (somatic complaints, reduced vital energy, anxiety, and depressive thoughts) were assessed using WHO's Self Reporting Questionnaire 20-Item (SRQ-20) tool. Log-binomial regressions were used to examine the association between cumulative ACEs and each depressive symptom, as well as identify ACEs driving this association. RESULTS: The mean age of our sample was 27.5 years. Over 95 % reported having experienced ≥1 ACE. On average, each participant reported four ACEs; 11 % reported sexual abuse. About 52 % and 44 % reported anxiety and depressive thoughts, respectively. In regressions, cumulative ACE scores were significantly associated with depressive symptoms-even after adjusting for multiple testing. This association was primarily driven by reports of sexual abuse. LIMITATIONS: Data on maternal ACEs were self-reported and could suffer from measurement error because of recall bias. CONCLUSIONS: ACEs are widespread and have a graded relationship with depressive symptoms in motherhood. Sexual abuse was found to be a primary driver of this association. Earlier recognition of ACEs and provision of trauma-informed interventions to improve care in PWLHIV may reduce negative mental health sequelae.

Video-Based Intervention for Improving Maternal Retention and Adherence to HIV Treatment: Patient Perspectives and Experiences.

VITAL Start is a video-based intervention aimed to improve maternal retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Malawi. We explored the experiences of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLHIV) not yet on ART who received VITAL Start before ART initiation to assess the intervention's acceptability, feasibility, fidelity of delivery, and perceived impact. Between February and September 2019, we conducted semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of 34 PWLHIV within one month of receiving VITAL Start. The participants reported that VITAL Start was acceptable and feasible and had good fidelity of delivery. They also reported that the video had a positive impact on their lives, encouraging them to disclose their HIV status to their sexual partners who, in turn, supported them to adhere to ART. The participants suggested using a similar intervention to provide health-related education/counseling to people with long term conditions. Our findings suggest that video-based interventions may be an acceptable, feasible approach to optimizing ART retention and adherence amongst PWLHIV, and they can be delivered with high fidelity. Further exploration of the utility of low cost, scalable, video-based interventions to address health counseling gaps in sub-Saharan Africa is warranted.

The relationship between intimate partner violence and HIV outcomes among pregnant women living with HIV in Malawi.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health concern particularly in pregnancy where IPV can have negative health implications for the mother and child. Data suggest IPV disproportionately affects pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWH) compared to those without HIV. HIV-related outcomes are worse among women experiencing IPV. Despite this knowledge, there is paucity of data concerning PWLWH and IPV in Malawi, where there is a high HIV prevalence (10.6%). Objectives: We aim to characterize IPV amongst PWLWH in Malawi and describe its relationship to demographic characteristics, psychosocial factors, and HIV-related outcomes. Methods: This analysis used data from the VITAL Start pilot study, which is a video-based intervention targeting retention and ART adherence amongst PWLWH in Malawi. PWLWH not on ART were recruited at antenatal clinic and given study questionnaires to assess demographics, IPV, and psychosocial factors. Questionnaires were also administered at one-month follow-up to assess outcomes related to HIV. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to explore the risk factors associated with IPV. Results: Thirty-nine percent of participants reported ever experiencing IPV from their current partner. The majority (53%) reporting IPV experienced more than one type of violence. IPV was associated with being married (p=0.04) and depression (p<0.0001) in the univariable analysis. For women retained at one-month, IPV was associated with reporting a missed ART dose in the past month but not with adherence measured by pill count. Conclusions: A large proportion of PWLWH experienced IPV from their current partner and IPV was associated with worse self-reported ART adherence at one-month follow-up. Further evidence is needed to understand how IPV impacts PWLWH throughout postpartum and beyond. Given the detrimental impact on health outcomes among PWLWH in Malawi, additional focus on IPV is essential to identify mechanisms to prevent, screen, and manage IPV among this population.

The Video intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life (VITAL Start): protocol for a multisite randomized controlled trial of a brief video-based intervention to improve antiretroviral adherence and retention among HIV-infected pregnant women in Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Improving maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) retention and adherence is a critical challenge facing prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programs. There is an urgent need for evidence-based, cost-effective, and scalable interventions to improve maternal adherence and retention that can be feasibly implemented in overburdened health systems. Brief video-based interventions are a promising but underutilized approach to this crisis. We describe a trial protocol to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a standardized educational video-based intervention targeting HIV-infected pregnant women that seeks to optimize their ART retention and adherence by providing a VITAL Start (Video intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life) before committing to lifelong ART. METHODS: This study is a multisite parallel group, randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of a brief facility-based video intervention to optimize retention and adherence to ART among pregnant women living with HIV in Malawi. A total of 892 pregnant women living with HIV and not yet on ART will be randomized to standard-of-care pre-ART counseling or VITAL Start. The primary outcome is a composite of retention and adherence (viral load < 1000 copies/ml) 12 months after starting ART. Secondary outcomes include assessments of behavioral adherence (self-reported adherence, pharmacy refill, and tenofovir diphosphate concentration), psychosocial impact, and resource utilization. We will also examine the implementation of VITAL Start via surveys and qualitative interviews with patients, partners, and health care workers and conduct cost-effectiveness analyses. DISCUSSION: This is a robust evaluation of an innovative facility-based video intervention for pregnant women living with HIV, with the potential to improve maternal and infant outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03654898. Registered on 31 August 2018.

Factors associated with burnout amongst healthcare workers providing HIV care in Malawi.

CONTEXT: High rates of burnout have been reported in low and medium income countries and can detrimentally impact healthcare delivery. Understanding factors associated with burnout amongst health care workers providing HIV care may help develop interventions to prevent/treat burnout. OBJECTIVES: We sought to understand factors associated with burnout amongst health care workers providing HIV care in Malawi. METHODS: This was a sub-study of a larger cross-sectional study measuring burnout prevalence amongst a convenience sample of healthcare workers providing HIV care in 89 health facilities in eight districts in Malawi. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Anonymously administered surveys included questions about sociodemographics, work characteristics (work load, supervisor support, team interactions), depression, life stressors, assessment of type D personality, and career satisfaction. We performed univariable and multivariable regression analyses to explore associations between variables and burnout. RESULTS: We received 535 responses (response rate 99%). Factors associated with higher rates of burnout on multivariable regression analyses included individual level factors: male gender (OR 1.75 [CI 1.17, 2.63]; p = 0.007), marital status (widowed or divorced) (OR 3.24 [CI 1.32, 7.98]; p = 0.011), depression (OR 3.32 [CI 1.21, 9.10]; p = 0.020), type D personality type (OR 2.77 [CI 1.50, 5.12]; p = 0.001) as well as work related factors: working at a health center vs. a rural hospital (OR 2.02 [CI 1.19, 3.40]; p = 0.009); lack of a very supportive supervisor (OR 2.38 [CI 1.32, 4.29]; p = 0.004), dissatisfaction with work/team interaction (OR 1.76 [CI 1.17, 2.66]; p = 0.007), and career dissatisfaction (OR 0.76 [CI 0.60, 0.96]; p = 0.020). CONCLUSION: This study identified several individual level vulnerabilities as well as work related modifiable factors. Improving the supervisory capacity of health facility managers and creating conditions for improved team dynamics may help reduce burnout amongst healthcare workers proving HIV care in Malawi.

VITAL Start: Video-Based Intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life-Pilot of a Novel Video-Based Approach to HIV Counseling for Pregnant Women Living with HIV.

We developed and piloted a video-based intervention targeting HIV-positive pregnant women to optimize antiretroviral therapy (ART) retention and adherence by providing a VITAL Start (Video-intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life) before ART. VITAL Start (VS) was grounded in behavior-determinant models and developed through an iterative multi-stakeholder process. Of 306 pregnant women eligible for ART, 160 were randomized to standard of care (SOC), 146 to VS and followed for one-month. Of those assigned to VS, 100% completed video-viewing; 96.5% reported they would recommend VS. Of 11 health workers interviewed, 82% preferred VS over SOC; 91% found VS more time-efficient. Compared to SOC, VS group had greater change in HIV/ART knowledge (p < 0.01), trend towards being more likely to start ART (p = 0.07), and better self-reported adherence (p = 0.02). There were no significant group differences in 1-month retention and pharmacy pill count. VITAL Start was highly acceptable, feasible, with promising benefits to ART adherence.

Integrating depression management into HIV primary care in central Malawi: the implementation of a pilot capacity building program.

BACKGROUND: In Malawi, early retention in HIV care remains challenging. Depression is strongly associated with reduced anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression. Appropriate depression care for people initiating ART is likely to be supportive of early and continued engagement in the HIV care continuum. This paper aims to provide an overview of a task-shifting program that integrates depression screening and treatment into HIV care and the strategy used to evaluate this program, describes the implementation process, and discusses key challenges and lessons learned in the first phase of program implementation. METHODS: We are implementing a program integrating depression screening and treatment into HIV care initiation at two clinics in Lilongwe District, Malawi. The program's effect on patients' depression and HIV outcomes will be evaluated using a multiple baseline pre-post study. In this manuscript, we draw from our experiences as program implementers and some of the quantitative data to describe the process of implementation and key lessons learned. RESULTS: We successfully implemented the screening phase of this program at both clinics; 88.3 and 93.2% of newly diagnosed patients have been screened for depression at each clinic respectively. 25% of enrolled patients reported symptoms of mild-to-severe depression and only 6% reported symptoms of moderate-to-severe depression. Key lessons learned from the process show the importance of utilizing existing processes and infrastructure and focusing on iterative and collaborative learning. We continued to face challenges around establishing a sense of program ownership among providers, developing capacity to diagnose and manage depression, and ensuring the availability of appropriate medication. Our efforts to address these challenges provide insight into the technical and managerial support needed to prepare for, roll out, and sustain integrated models of mental health and HIV care. CONCLUSIONS: This activity demonstrates how a depression screening program can successfully be integrated into HIV care within the public health system in Malawi. While this program focuses on integrating depression management into HIV care, most of the lessons learned could apply to integration of mental health into any non-psychiatric specialist setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID [ NCT03555669 ]. Retrospectively registered on 13 June 2018.

Burnout and self-reported suboptimal patient care amongst health care workers providing HIV care in Malawi.

BACKGROUND: The well-documented shortages of health care workers (HCWs) in sub-Saharan Africa are further intensified by the increased human resource needs of expanding HIV treatment programs. Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and a sense of low personal accomplishment (PA). HCWs' burnout can negatively impact the delivery of health services. Our main objective was to examine the prevalence of burnout amongst HCWs in Malawi and explore its relationship to self-reported suboptimal patient care. METHODS: A cross-sectional study among HCWs providing HIV care in 89 facilities, across eight districts in Malawi was conducted. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory defined as scores in the mid-high range on the EE or DP subscales. Nine questions adapted for this study assessed self-reported suboptimal patient care. Surveys were administered anonymously and included socio-demographic and work-related questions. Validated questionnaires assessed depression and at-risk alcohol use. Chi-square test or two-sample t-test was used to explore associations between variables and self-reported suboptimal patient care. Bivariate analyses identified candidate variables (p < 0.2). Final regression models included variables with significant main effects. RESULTS: Of 520 HCWs, 62% met criteria for burnout. In the three dimensions of burnout, 55% reported moderate-high EE, 31% moderate-high DP, and 46% low-moderate PA. The majority (89%) reported engaging in suboptimal patient care/attitudes including making mistakes in treatment not due to lack of knowledge/experience (52%), shouting at patients (45%), and not performing diagnostic tests due to a desire to finish quickly (35%). In multivariate analysis, only burnout remained associated with self-reported suboptimal patient care (OR 3.22, [CI 2.11 to 4.90]; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Burnout was common among HCWs providing HIV care and was associated with self-reported suboptimal patient care practices/attitudes. Research is needed to understand factors that contribute to and protect against burnout and that inform the development of strategies to reduce burnout.

High self-reported non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy amongst adolescents living with HIV in Malawi: barriers and associated factors.

INTRODUCTION: Globally adolescents and young adults account for more than 40% of new HIV infections, and HIV-related deaths amongst adolescents increased by 50% from 2005 to 2012. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical to control viral replication and preserve health; however, there is a paucity of research on adherence amongst the growing population of adolescents living with HIV/AIDS (ALHIV) in Southern Africa. We examined levels of self-reported ART adherence, barriers to adherence, and factors associated with non-adherence amongst ALHIV in Malawi. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 519 ALHIV (12-18 years) attending two large HIV clinics in central and south-eastern Malawi. Participants self-reported missed doses (past week/month), barriers to adherence, and completed questionnaires on past traumatic events/stressors, disclosure, depression, substance use, treatment self-efficacy, and social support. Biomedical data were retrieved from existing medical records. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with self-reported ART adherence (7 day recall). RESULTS: The mean age of participants (SD) was 14.5 (2) years and 290 (56%) were female. Of the 519 participants, 153 (30%) reported having missed ART doses within the past week, and 234 (45%) in the past month. Commonly reported barriers to adherence included forgetting (39%), travel from home (14%), busy with other things (11%), feeling depressed/overwhelmed (6%), feeling stigmatized by people outside (5%) and within the home (3%). Factors found to be independently associated with missing a dose in the past week were drinking alcohol in the past month (OR 4.96, 95% CI [1.41-17.4]), missed clinic appointment in the past 6 months (OR 2.23, 95% CI [1.43-3.49]), witnessed or experienced violence in the home (OR 1.86, 95% CI [1.08-3.21]), and poor treatment self-efficacy (OR 1.55 95% CI [1.02-2.34]). Sex and age were not associated with adherence. CONCLUSION: In our study, nearly half of all ALHIV reported non-adherence to ART in the past month. Violence in the home or alcohol use in the past year as well as poor treatment self-efficacy were associated with worse adherence. Sub-optimal adherence is a major issue for ALHIV and compromise treatment outcomes. Programmes specifically tailored to address those challenges most pertinent to ALHIV may help improve adherence to ART.

Why Did I Stop? Barriers and Facilitators to Uptake and Adherence to ART in Option B+ HIV Care in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Causes for loss-to-follow-up, including early refusals of and stopping antiretroviral therapy (ART), in Malawi's Option B+ program are poorly understood. This study examines the main barriers and facilitators to uptake and adherence to ART under Option B+. In depth interviews were conducted with HIV-infected women who were pregnant or postpartum in Lilongwe, Malawi (N = 65). Study participants included women who refused ART initiation (N = 10), initiated ART and then stopped (N = 26), and those who initiated ART and remained on treatment (N = 29). The barriers to ART initiation were varied and included concerns about partner support, feeling healthy, and needing time to think. The main reasons for stopping ART included side effects and lack of partner support. A substantial number of women started ART after initially refusing or stopping ART. There were several facilitators for re-starting ART, including encouragement from community health workers, side effects subsiding, decline in health, change in partner, and fear of future sickness. Amongst those who remained on ART, desire to prevent transmission and improve health were the most influential facilitators. Reasons for refusing and stopping ART were varied. ART-related side effects and feeling healthy were common barriers to ART initiation and adherence. Providing consistent pre-ART counseling, early support for patients experiencing side effects, and targeted efforts to bring women who stop treatment back into care may improve long term health outcomes.

Factors associated with depression among adolescents living with HIV in Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Prior research suggests that a high prevalence of depression, with a detrimental impact on treatment outcomes exists among HIV-infected youth. Data on potential risk factors of depression among HIV-infected youth in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify contributory/protective factors associated with depression in Malawian adolescents 12-18 years old living with HIV. METHODS: Depression was measured by a validated Chichewa version of the Beck Depression Inventory version-II (BDI-II) and the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R). Data on variables thought to potentially be contributory/protective were collected and included: socio-demographics, past traumatic events/stressors, behavioural factors/social support, and bio-clinical parameters. Chi-square test or two-sample t-test was used to explore associations between factors and depression. Additional testing via linear/logistic regression, adjusting for age and sex, identified candidate variables (p < 0.1). Final regression models included variables with significant main effects and interactions. RESULTS: Of the 562 participants enrolled (mean age, 14.5 years [SD 2.0]; 56.1% female), the prevalence of depression was 18.9%. In multivariate linear regression, the variables significantly associated with higher BDI-II score were female gender, fewer years of schooling, death in the family/household, failing a school term/class, having a boyfriend/girlfriend, not disclosed or not having shared one's HIV status with someone else, more severe immunosuppression, and bullied for taking medications. Bullying victimization was reported by 11.6% of respondents. We found significant interactions: older participants with lower height-for-age z-scores and dissatisfied with their physical appearance had higher BDI-II scores. In multivariate logistic regression, factors significantly associated with depression were: older age, OR 1.23 (95% CI 1.07-1.42); fewer years of schooling, OR 3.30 (95% CI 1.54-7.05); and bullied for taking medications, (OR 4.20 (95% CI 2.29-7.69). CONCLUSION: Having fewer years of schooling and being bullied for taking medications were most clearly associated with depression. Programmes to support the mental health needs of HIV-infected adolescents that address issues such as disclosure, educational support, and, most notably, bullying may improve treatment outcomes and are recommended.

Prevalence of depression and validation of the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Children's Depression Inventory-Short amongst HIV-positive adolescents in Malawi.

INTRODUCTION: There is a remarkable dearth of evidence on mental illness in adolescents living with HIV/AIDS, particularly in the African setting. Furthermore, there are few studies in sub-Saharan Africa validating the psychometric properties of diagnostic and screening tools for depression amongst adolescents. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the prevalence of depression amongst a sample of HIV-positive adolescents in Malawi. The secondary aim was to develop culturally adapted Chichewa versions of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Children's Depression Inventory-II-Short (CDI-II-S) and conduct a psychometric evaluation of these measures by evaluating their performance against a structured depression assessment using the Children's Rating Scale, Revised (CDRS-R). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: We enrolled 562 adolescents, 12-18 years of age from two large public HIV clinics in central and southern Malawi. Participants completed two self-reports, the BDI-II and CDI-II-S, followed by administration of the CDRS-R by trained clinicians. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for various BDI-II and CDI-II-S cut-off scores were calculated with receiver operating characteristics analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) was also calculated. Internal consistency was measured by standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and correlation between self-reports and CDRS-R by Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: Prevalence of depression as measured by the CDRS-R was 18.9%. Suicidal ideation was expressed by 7.1% (40) using the BDI-II. The AUC for the BDI-II was 0.82 (95% CI 0.78-0.89) and for the CDI-II-S was 0.75 (95% CI 0.70-0.80). A score of ≥13 in BDI-II achieved sensitivity of >80%, and a score of ≥17 had a specificity of >80%. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.80 (BDI-II) and 0.66 (CDI-II-S). The correlation between the BDI-II and CDRS-R was 0.42 (p<0.001) and between the CDI-II-S and CDRS-R was 0.37 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the BDI-II has sound psychometric properties in an outpatient setting among HIV-positive adolescents in Malawi. The high prevalence of depression amongst HIV-positive Malawian adolescents noted in this study underscores the need for the development of comprehensive services for HIV-positive adolescents.