Table 1.

Summary of research design, sample, data sources, time, analyses and expected outcomes

Objective	Sample	Data sources	Time for data collection	Analyses	Expected outcomes
Quantitative phase
To examine psychosocial outcomes of women living with HIV across the pregnancy–postpartum trajectory To identify factors associated with adverse outcomes To assess differences in psychosocial outcomes between pregnant women living with HIV, non-pregnant women living with HIV and pregnant women not living with HIV	Pregnant woman living with HIV and non-pregnant women living with HIV (control group A)	Survey using standardised self-report instruments: Stigma (HIV Stigma scale) Depression (EPDS) Stress (PSS-10) Social isolation (UCLA-short) Social support (MSPSS) Infant feeding (PACIFY)	Pregnant WLWH: Third trimester, 3 and 6 months postpartum Control group A: Baseline, 3–4 months, 6–7 months	Quantitative statistical analysis to Assess changes over time Identify potential predictors of adverse outcomes Assess differences between pregnant WLWH and control groups	Associations and prevalence of psychosocial outcomes and prevalence of adverse outcomes specifically related to the pregnancy and postpartum period in the context of HIV
	Pregnant women not living with HIV (Control group B)	Survey using standardised self-report instruments: Depression (EPDS) Stress (PSS-10) Social isolation (UCLA-short) Social support (MSPSS) Infant feeding (PACIFY)	Third trimester, 3 and 6 months postpartum
Qualitative phase
To elucidate the range of experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood while living with HIV among women in Scandinavia	Pregnant women living with HIV included in quantitative survey study	Individual interviews using a hybrid, narrative/semi-structured approach	Third trimester and 6 months postpartum	Qualitative narrative thematic analysis	In-depth and detailed descriptions of women’s experiences, challenges and joys of becoming and being a mother in the context of HIV
Mixed methods integration and analysis
To integrate the quantitative survey findings and qualitative interview findings with the intent of obtaining a more comprehensive understanding of the psychosocial experiences and needs of WLWH across the pregnancy–postpartum trajectory	Participating women in the quantitative and qualitative phase	Quantitative survey results Qualitative interview results	N/A	Merging of quantitative and qualitative results in a joint display analysis, where the results from the two study phases will be merged by matching in a side-by-side comparison to assess or confirmation, expansion or discordance between the data sets	Enhanced and comprehensive understanding of the psychosocial and emotional care needs during pregnancy and early motherhood in the context of HIV infection

EPDS, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; MSPSS, Multidimensional scale of Perceived Social Support; N/A, not available; PSS-10, Perceived Stress Scale – 10 item; UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles; WLWH, women living with HIV.