Introduction
HIV suffer from elevated, depressive symptoms, depression, Depression, perinatal depression
VIRUS, VERTICAL TRANSMISSION
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) care has been scaled up across Uganda and the larger region of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in efforts to eliminate vertical transmission of the HIV virus from the a mother living with HIV to her fetus or infant [Depression is common among pregnant and post-partum women living with HIV, and depression may contribute to poor adherence to PMTCT care processes. Studies in SSA suggest 30–50% of women living with HIV suffer from elevated depressive symptoms either during pregnancy or post-partum [Depression treatment and depression alleviation have been shown to improve adherence to HIV care processes [Conceptual framework for the effects of depression treatment on depression, PMTCT care processes, and HIV transmission to the childDepression is rarely diagnosed and treated in Ugandan antenatal care (ANC) or HIV clinics, in part due to the scarcity of mental health professionals [Maternal Depression Treatment in HIV (M-DEPTH) is an ongoing cluster randomized controlled trial of evidence-based depression treatment to alleviate depression and ultimately improve PMTCT care adherence and outcomes among women living with HIV in Uganda who are experiencing perinatal depression [