Anxiety Among Perinatal Women Living With HIV: A Global Scoping Review

ABSTRACT: Anxiety symptoms and disorders among perinatal women living with HIV (WLHIV) represent an important area for research and clinical intervention. Guided by the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework, this scoping review highlights the scarcity of studies addressing anxiety among perinatal WLHIV. Results indicate that anxiety as a distinct concept is not well-defined. Inconsistencies in defining anxiety during the perinatal period contribute to variances in the measures used across studies, estimates of anxiety prevalence, and implications for treatment and intervention. Longitudinal research examining the relationship between anxiety and associated contextual factors over time and during different stages and transitions is needed to improve anxiety symptom and disorder identification, treatment, and intervention for perinatal WLHIV.