Postnatal depression, particularly in disadvantaged communities, has been shown to be associated with impairments in the child's growth, 36 and his / her social, emotional, and cognitive development.37 By school age, children of women who suffer postnatal depression are at risk for showing externalising and internalising behavioural problems, and they have lower social skills and academic achievement.38 A
key way in which maternal depression affects children's development is by
disrupting the mother - infant relationship as well as routine parenting functions, 37 and two studies have shown that HIV infection is associated with similar disturbances in mother - child
interactions.13, 39 Currently, no studies in the HIV literature have examined maternal psychosocial functioning in relation to mother - child
interactions or child development.