Table 1 Sample demographics

Sample size

15 service users with depression co-morbid with HIV+

10 service users;

20 women diagnosed with maternal depression

10 nurses;

20 lay counsellors;

2 Auxiliary social workers

Age range

28 – 53 years

21 – 59 years

21 – 59 years

Nurses: 32 – 54 years

Lay counsellors: 23 – 49 years

Auxiliary social workers: 37 and 50 years

Gender

All females

6 males; 4 females

All females

Nurses: 9 females; 1 male

Lay counsellors: 16 females; 3 males

Auxiliary social workers: 2 females

Race

All black Africans

9 black African, 1 white

All black Africans

All black Africans

Level of education

1 – None

None-2;

15 – Primary education;

Nurses: All professional nurses trained in a 4 year National Diploma in General nursing. Three nurses had received further training for Primary Health Care which made them clinicians. One nurse was trained in HIV management, Management in nursing and had a Diploma in nursing education. One nurse reported being a psychiatric nurse. One nurse was studying towards a degree in nursing and was in her final year.

7 – Primary education

Primary Education-3;

2 – Secondary education;

7- Secondary education

Secondary and Post-Secondary −5

3 – Tertiary education

Lay counsellors: All of the counsellors had received at least some form of counselling training from various non-governmental organisations including adherence training, HIV counselling, PMTCT and TB.

Auxiliary social workers: Both trained in auxiliary social work. One also trained in paramedics, home based care, and is a trained police reservist.

Employment status/length of employment

2 – Employed

Employed-1;

4 – Employed;

Nurses and lay counsellors: Work experience ranged from 2 months to 9 years.

13 – Unemployed

Unemployed-8;

16 – Unemployed

Auxiliary social workers: 3 years each.

1 – Student

Student-1