A mixed methods evaluation of the effect of the protect and respect intervention on the condom use and disclosure practices of women living with HIV/AIDS

Entertainment-education to reduce internalized stigma, increase intimate partner status disclosure intentions, and increase antiretroviral medical adherence intentions: A randomized controlled trial targeting black women living with HIV in the Southern U.S

BACKGROUND

Black women in the Southern U.S. account for 67% of all new HIV diagnoses across women of all races and ethnicities. In comparison to women of other racial and ethnic identities, Black women disproportionately experience internalized stigma, lower levels of disclosure self-efficacy, and lower rates of medical adherence. The disclosure processes model hypothesizes that persons living with HIV can be disclosure avoidance oriented or disclosure approach oriented. Disclosure avoidance is facilitated by various forms of stigma and negative outcome expectations. While disclosure approach orientation is facilitated by factors such as positive disclosure attitudes and disclosure self-efficacy. Despite the important role of disclosure in ending the HIV epidemic, extant interventions are limited. Recent research suggests entertainment-education (EE) may be an effective intervention for HIV status disclosure. Entertainment-education is a persuasive strategy that consists of intentionally embedding health and social messages into entertaining content.

METHODS

The present study evaluated the comparative efficacy of the 90 DAYS film for improving internalized HIV stigma, disclosure beliefs, positive disclosure attitudes, disclosure self-efficacy, HIV disclosure intentions, and medical adherence intentions. A randomized controlled trial was employed consisting of 130 Black women living with HIV in the Southern U.S. Participants were recruited primarily via a Qualtrics panel and randomly assigned to either view the 90 DAYS film or a standard of care brochure.

RESULTS

Results indicated the EE condition significantly outperformed the brochure condition on the following outcomes: disclosure beliefs (p = .046), positive disclosure attitudes (p = .008), disclosure self-efficacy (p = .007), and intentions to disclose to an intimate partner (p = .038). Statistically significant differences were not observed for internalized stigma or medical adherence intentions.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that EE is an effective strategy for improving psychosocial influences of disclosure and disclosure intentions. Theoretical and practical implications of this work are discussed.

Efficacy of Psychological Interventions Towards the Reduction of High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among People Living with HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, 2010-2020

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) may be vulnerable to mental illness. As sexual transmission is the leading cause of HIV infection, evidence-based study for the effect of psychological interventions on the change of sexual is needed. To estimate the efficacy of psychological interventions towards reducing unprotected sex and increasing condom use among PLWH. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE (OVID), and PsycINFO (OVID) for studies reporting psychological intervention effects on the outcomes of condom use and/or unprotected sex from 2010 to 2020. This review is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020193640. Of 949 studies, 17 studies were included in this systematic review. Overall, participants in the intervention group reduced sexual risk or condomless sex relative to control groups. The effect was higher for people having sex with HIV-positive partners comparing with those who had sex with HIV-negative or unknown status partners. Psychological interventions might positively affect the condom use of PLWH and should be prioritized and regularly.

90 DAYS: An investigation of a short entertainment-education film to improve HIV status disclosure among black women living with HIV in Miami-Dade County

Within Miami-Dade County, Black women experience disproportionate rates of HIV incidence and prevalence. Status disclosure to sexual partners is central to mitigating the HIV epidemic and ensuring a healthier lifestyle for those living with the virus. The disclosure processes model (DPM) posits that barriers such as stigma and negative outcome expectations often facilitate disclosure avoidance. Therefore, this study investigated the utility and acceptability of an entertainment-education (EE) short film, 90 DAYS, for disclosure among Black women living with HIV in Miami-Dade County. Employing photo-elicitation (Harper, 2002), focus groups were conducted with 48 participants. After screening the 90 DAYS film about stigma and disclosure, participants were asked semi-structured questions based upon extant EE and DPM literature. Via inductive and deductive processes, five themes were derived from the data. Participants found the 90 DAYS film to be an empowering counter-narrative that could be used to overcome multiple disclosure-related factors. They felt it provided a social script for how to disclose to their sexual partners. A novel finding of this investigation was that respondents asserted the film could facilitate safer disclosure events. Additional themes included the film being a resource of hope for young and newly diagnosed women; and an educational tool for the community. Altogether, findings lend promise to the use of EE for addressing disclosure avoidance among Black women living with HIV.

A randomised feasibility trial of an intervention to support sharing of HIV status for 18-25-year olds living with perinatally acquired HIV compared with standard care: HIV Empowering Adults' Decisions to Share-UK/Uganda Project (HEADS-UP)

Abstract

Background

Young adults with perinatally acquired HIV (PAH) face several challenges, including adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART), managing the risk of onward HIV transmission and maintaining positive well-being. Sharing one’s HIV status with others (onward HIV disclosure) may assist with these challenges by facilitating emotional and practical support. Rates of HIV status sharing are, however, low in this population. There are no existing interventions focused on sharing one’s HIV status for young adults living with PAH. The HEADS-UP study is designed to develop and test the feasibility of an intervention to help the sharing of HIV status for young adults with PAH.

Methods

The study is a 30-month multi-site randomised feasibility study across both a high-income/low-HIV prevalence country (UK) and a low-income/high-HIV prevalence country (Uganda). Phase 1 (12 months) will involve developing the intervention using qualitative interviews with 20 young people living with PAH (ten in the UK—18 to 29 years; ten in Uganda—18 to 25 years), 20 of their social network (friends, family, sexual partners as defined by the young person; ten in the UK, ten in Uganda) and ten professionals with experience working with young adults with PAH (five in the UK, five in Uganda). Phase 2 (18 months) involves conducting a randomised feasibility parallel group trial of the intervention alongside current standard of care condition in each country (main study) with 18- to 25-year olds with PAH. A sample size of 94 participants per condition (intervention or standard of care; 188 participants in total: 47 in each condition in each country) with data at both the baseline and 6-month follow-up time points, across UK and Ugandan sites will be recruited. Participants in the intervention condition will also complete measures immediately post-intervention. Face-to-face interviews will be conducted with ten participants in both countries immediately post-intervention and at 6-month follow-up (sub-study).

Discussion

This study will be the first trial that we are aware of to address important gaps in understanding acceptable and feasible ways of delivering HIV status sharing support for young people living with PAH.

Trial registration

ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN31852047, Registered on 21 January, 2019. Study sponsor: Royal Holloway University of London. Sponsor contact: alicen.nickson@rhul.ac.uk. Date and version: April 2020. Protocol version 3.5.

Strategies for improving the lives of US women aged 40 and above living with HIV/AIDS: an evidence map

BACKGROUND

While in its early years the HIV epidemic affected primarily the male and the young, nowadays, the population living with HIV/AIDS is approximately 24% women, and its age composition has shifted towards older ages. Many of the older women who live with HIV/AIDS also live with the medical and social conditions that accompany aging. This work aims to identify and characterize empirical studies of strategies for the comprehensive management of women over 40, including transgender women, who live with HIV/AIDS. Forty was chosen as an operational age cutoff to identify premenopausal women who are less likely to bear children, as well as peri- and postmenopausal women.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search after discussions with a diverse panel of content experts and other stakeholders and developed an evidence map that identified 890 citations that address questions having to do with programs and barriers to engaging with programs, as well as the role of insurance and comorbidities, and have enrolled older women who live with HIV/AIDS.

RESULTS

Of these, only 37 (4%) reported results of interest for women over 40 who live with HIV/AIDS, or examined interactions between gender and older age that would allow predictions in this subgroup. Few of the 37 eligible studies focused on women facing obvious challenges, such as immigrants, transgender, physically abused, or those recently released from prison. No studies focused on women caring for dependents, including children and grandchildren, or those diagnosed after age 40.

CONCLUSION

The evidence base that is directly applicable to women over 40 who live with HIV/AIDS in the USA is limited, and the research need is broad. We propose research prioritization strategies for this population.

Empowering Malian women living with HIV regarding serostatus disclosure management: Short-term effects of a community-based intervention

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the short-term effects of Gundo-So-a program aimed at empowering Malian women living with HIV (WLHIV) regarding serostatus disclosure management.

METHODS

A pre-experimental study with two measures (one week before and four weeks after Gundo-So) was carried out. A 35-item questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 210 WLHIV. Six outcomes were considered: ability to decide whether or not to disclose HIV status, self-efficacy to keep HIV status a secret, self-efficacy to disclose HIV status, feeling crushed by the weight of secrecy, perceived physical health, and perceived psychological health. For each outcome, temporal changes associated with the intervention were assessed using linear regressions with random intercepts.

RESULTS

Statistically significant change was observed for all six outcomes between the pre- and post-intervention measures. Furthermore, several variables were associated with the baseline levels of the outcomes and the intervention effect.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that Gundo-So empowers Malian WLHIV with regard to serostatus disclosure management, thus improving their perceived physical and psychological health.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

These results highlight the need for programs to empower WLHIV regarding serostatus disclosure, so that WLHIV can make free and informed decisions regarding serostatus disclosure.

HIV/STI Prevention Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Behavioral interventions can prevent the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses the effectiveness and quality of available evidence of HIV prevention interventions for people living with HIV in high-income settings. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CDC Compendium of Effective Interventions. Interventions published between January, 1998 and September, 2015 were included. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Forty-six articles and 63 datasets involving 14,096 individuals met inclusion criteria. Included articles were grouped by intervention type, comparison group and outcome. Few of these had high or moderate quality of evidence and statistically significant effects. One intervention type, group-level health education interventions, were effective in reducing HIV/STI incidence when compared to attention controls. A second intervention type, comprehensive risk counseling and services, was effective in reducing sexual risk behaviors when compared to both active and attention controls. All other intervention types showed no statistically significant effect or had low or very low quality of evidence. Given that the majority of interventions produced low or very low quality of evidence, researchers should commit to rigorous evaluation and high quality reporting of HIV intervention studies.

Interventions to address unequal gender and power relations and improve self-efficacy and empowerment for sexual and reproductive health decision-making for women living with HIV: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Many women living with HIV experience gendered power inequalities, particularly in their intimate relationships, that prevent them from achieving optimal sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and exercising their rights. We assessed the effectiveness of interventions to improve self-efficacy and empowerment of women living with HIV to make SRH decisions through a systematic review.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We included peer-reviewed articles indexed in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus published through January 3, 2017, presenting multi-arm or pre-post intervention evaluations measuring one of the following outcomes: (1) self-efficacy, empowerment, or measures of SRH decision-making ability, (2) SRH behaviors (e.g., condom use, contraceptive use), or (3) SRH outcomes (e.g., sexually transmitted infections [STIs]). Twenty-one studies evaluating 11 intervention approaches met the inclusion criteria. All were conducted in the United States or sub-Saharan Africa. Two high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed significant decreases in incident gonorrhea and chlamydia. Sixteen studies measuring condom use generally found moderate increases associated with the intervention, including in higher-quality RCTs. Findings on contraceptive use, condom self-efficacy, and other empowerment measures (e.g., sexual communication, equitable relationship power) were mixed. Studies were limited by small sample sizes, high loss to follow-up, and high reported baseline condom use.

CONCLUSIONS

While more research is needed, the limited existing evidence suggests that these interventions may help support the SRH and rights of women living with HIV. This review particularly highlights the importance of these interventions for preventing STIs, which present a significant health burden for women living with HIV that is rarely addressed holistically. Empowerment-based interventions should be considered as part of a comprehensive package of STI and other SRH services for women living with HIV.

A systematic review of peer-supported interventions for health promotion and disease prevention

Prior research has examined peer programs with respect to specific peer roles (e.g.; peer support) or specific health/wellness domains (e.g.; exercise/diet), or have aggregated effects across roles and domains. We sought to conduct a systematic review that categorizes and assesses the effects of peer interventions to promote health and wellness by peer role, intervention type, and outcomes. We use evidence mapping to visually catalog and synthesize the existing research. We searched PubMed and WorldCat databases (2005 to 2015) and New York Academy of Medicine Grey Literature Report (1999 to 2016) for English-language randomized control trials. We extracted study design, study participants, type of intervention(s), peer role(s), outcomes assessed and measures used, and effects from 116 randomized controlled trials. Maps were created to provide a visual display of the evidence by intervention type, peer role, outcome type, and significant vs null or negative effects. There are more null than positive effects across peer interventions, with notable exceptions: group-based interventions that use peers as educators or group facilitators commonly improve knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions; peer educators also commonly improved social health/connectedness and engagement. Dyadic peer support influenced behavior change and peer counseling shows promising effects on physical health outcomes. Programs seeking to use peers in public health campaigns can use evidence maps to identify interventions that have previously demonstrated beneficial effects. Those seeking to produce health outcomes may benefit from identifying the mechanisms by which they expect their program to produce these effects and associated proximal outcomes for future evaluations.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

Although we attempted to register our protocol with PROSPERO, we did not meet eligibility criteria because we were past the data collection phase. The full PROSPERO-aligned protocol is available from the authors.

Behavioral interventions to promote condom use among women living with HIV: a systematic review update

Behavioral interventions have been essential components of HIV prevention approaches, especially those aimed to promote safe sexual practices. We conducted a comprehensive literature search without language restrictions between 1980 and July 2014 to identify randomized controlled trials or controlled studies investigating behavioral interventions which: included women living with HIV; focused on condom use promotion; presented/analyzed outcomes by gender; used a 3-month follow-up or more; and considered at least one HIV-related behavioral or biological outcome. Eight studies comprising a total of 1,355 women living with HIV were included in the meta-analyses, and 13 studies were qualitatively described. When compared to standard care or minimal support intervention, behavioral interventions did not demonstrate an effect on increasing consistent condom use at the 3-month follow-up (RR = 0.92; 95%CI: 0.73, 1.16; p = 0.48), 6-month follow-up (RR = 1.13; 95%CI: 0.96, 1.34; p = 0.15), and 12-month follow-up (RR = 0.91; 95%CI: 0.77, 1.08; p = 0.30). Behavioral interventions also failed to reach positive effect in reduction of unprotected sexual intercourse at 6-months (MD = -1.80; 95%CI: -4.21, 0.62; p = 0.14) and 12-months follow-up (MD = -1.39; 95%CI: -2.29, 0.21; p = 0.09). These findings should be interpreted with caution since they are based on a few small trials. New researches are needed to assess the potential gains from a combination of interventions that promote safe sexual behavior with a harm reduction and gender approach, particularly in developing countries where HIV infection rates remain high.

HIV transmission risk behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS: the need to integrate HIV prevention interventions and public health strategies into HIV care

CONTEXT

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS (PLWHA) who continue high-risk behaviors may represent an important source for transmitting HIV infections.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors associated with high-risk behaviors among PLWHA and to plan better HIV prevention intervention strategies in HIV care.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey to assess HIV transmission risk behaviors including sexual practices, disclosure of HIV infection status to sexual partner(s), and injection drug use.

SETTING

Five HIV outpatient clinics serving diverse PLWHA in south central Pennsylvania.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 519 HIV-infected patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Two high-risk behaviors that may increase HIV transmission risk: (1) any unsafe sexual behavior and (2) nondisclosure of HIV infection status to sexual partner(s). An unsafe sexual behavior was defined as inconsistent condom use, sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or exchange of sex for money. A subgroup analysis was performed to examine factors related to unprotected anal intercourse among sexually active men who have sex with men.

RESULTS

About two-thirds of 519 HIV patients (65.7%) were sexually active, and nearly 50% of sexually active patients reported at least 1 unsafe sexual behavior. Nondisclosure of HIV infection status was reported by about 15% of the patients. Partners' characteristics including HIV infection status and the perceived partner behavior (ie, partner may have sex with other people) were significantly associated with unsafe sexual behaviors and with nondisclosure of HIV infection status. Non-Hispanic black males were more likely to withhold their HIV infection status from their sexual partner(s) (adjusted odds ratio = 4.51) than their white counterparts. In addition, the perceived partner sexual behavior was significantly related to unprotected anal intercourse among men who have sex with men (adjusted odds ratio = 2.00).

CONCLUSIONS

High-risk sexual behaviors are commonly reported by PLWHA, and these behaviors may be influenced by their partners' characteristics. HIV prevention interventions and public health strategies need to be incorporated into HIV care.

Another Way to Talk: Exploring Photovoice as a Strategy to Support Safe Disclosure Among Men and Women With HIV

HIV status disclosure can reduce stigma and facilitate medication adherence and safer sex among people living with HIV (PLH). Effective disclosure interventions are limited, however, and new strategies are necessary. We conducted a pilot Photovoice-based project with 38 PLH in four cities in the Midwest and Northeast U.S. and explored how the project affected disclosure perspectives and experiences. Participants attended three group Photovoice sessions, one individual session, and an optional photo exhibit. Qualitative strategies of theme and narrative analysis of photos and session transcripts revealed that participants discussed three categories of disclosures to others: fearful, reluctant, and open. The project supported all disclosure types, helping fearful participants manage their emotions, reluctant participants plan for more effective disclosures, and open participants share their HIV status. Pilot findings suggest that Photovoice should be further developed and studied as a safe and powerful strategy to improve disclosure and subsequent health and prevention outcomes among PLH.

Effectiveness of interventions promoting HIV serostatus disclosure to sexual partners: a systematic review

Disclosure of HIV serostatus to sexual partners is mandated within certain states in the United States and other countries. Despite these laws implemented and public health efforts to increase disclosure, rates of disclosure to sexual partners among people living with HIV (PLWH) remain low, suggesting the need for interventions to assist PLWH with the disclosure process. We conducted a systematic review of studies testing whether HIV serostatus disclosure interventions increase disclosure to sexual partners. We searched six electronic databases and screened 484 records. Five studies published between 2005 and 2012 met inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Results showed that three of the HIV serostatus disclosure-related intervention studies were efficacious in promoting disclosure to sexual partners. Although all three studies were conducted in the United States the intervention content and measurements of disclosure across the studies varied, so broad conclusions are not possible. The findings suggest that more rigorous HIV serostatus disclosure-related intervention trials targeting different populations in the United States and abroad are needed to facilitate disclosure to sexual partners.

"I Created Something New with Something that Had Died": Photo-Narratives of Positive Transformation Among Women with HIV

A dearth of research describes the strengths of women living with HIV (WLH), yet understanding these strengths can promote women's well-being and healthy behavior. This analysis explores positive life transformations among WLH through photo-stories. WLH (N = 30) from three U.S. cities participated in a pilot photovoice project to tell their story of HIV. The project included three group meetings, an individual interview, and a public exhibit. Using qualitative strategies of theme and narrative analysis we identified positive transformations in women's photo-stories. Participants were African American (83 %) and low income (83 %). Women described four major positive transitions in their lives including transformations related to healthfulness, spirituality, self-acceptance, and confidence. Despite challenges, WLH experience positive transformation and growth experiences. Understanding these transformative changes can shed light on women's motivation to make healthy life changes and thus frame strengths-based interventions for WLH. Photovoice itself is a potential strategy to promote WLH's strengths and health.

Sexual risk reduction for HIV-infected persons: a meta-analytic review of "positive prevention" randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Prevention intervention trials have been conducted to reduce risk of sexual transmission among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), but the findings were inconsistent. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate overall efficacy of prevention interventions on unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse (UVAI) among PLWHA from randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

METHODS

RCTs of prevention interventions among PLWHA published as of February 2012 were identified by systematically searching thirteen electronic databases. The primary outcome was UVAI. The difference of standardized mean difference (SMD) of UVAI between study arms, defined as effect size (ES), was calculated for each study and then pooled across studies using standard meta-analysis with a random effects model.

RESULTS

Lower likelihood of UVAI was observed in the intervention arms compared with the control arms either with any sexual partners (mean ES: -0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.32, -0.11) or with HIV-negative or unknown-status sexual partners (mean ES and 95% CI: -0.13 [-0.22, -0.04]). Short-term efficacy of interventions with ≤ 10 months of follow up was significant in reducing UVAI (1-5 months: -0.27 [-0.45, -0.10]; 6-10 months: -0.18 [-0.30, -0.07]), while long-term efficacy of interventions was weaker and might have been due to chance (11-15 months: -0.13 [-0.34, 0.08]; >15 months: -0.05 [-0.43, 0.32]).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analyses confirmed the short-term impact of prevention interventions on reducing self-reported UVAI among PLWHA irrespective of the type of sexual partner, but did not support a definite conclusion on long-term effect. It is suggested that booster intervention sessions are needed to maintain a sustainable reduction of unprotected sex among PLWHA in future risk reduction programs.

A systematic review of interventions for reducing HIV risk behaviors among people living with HIV in the United States, 1988-2012

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review to examine interventions for reducing HIV risk behaviors among people living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States.

METHODS

Systematic searches included electronic databases from 1988 to 2012, hand searches of journals, reference lists of articles, and HIV/AIDS Internet listservs. Each eligible study was evaluated against the established criteria on study design, implementation, analysis, and strength of findings to assess the risk of bias and intervention effects.

RESULTS

Forty-eight studies were evaluated. Fourteen studies (29%) with both low risk of bias and significant positive intervention effects in reducing HIV transmission risk behaviors were classified as evidence-based interventions (EBIs). Thirty-four studies were classified as non-EBIs due to high risk of bias or nonsignificant positive intervention effects. EBIs varied in delivery from brief prevention messages to intensive multisession interventions. The key components of EBIs included addressing HIV risk reduction behaviors, motivation for behavioral change, misconception about HIV, and issues related to mental health, medication adherence, and HIV transmission risk behavior.

CONCLUSION

Moving evidence-based prevention for PLWH into practice is an important step in making a greater impact on the HIV epidemic. Efficacious EBIs can serve as model programs for providers in healthcare and nonhealthcare settings looking to implement evidence-based HIV prevention. Clinics and public health agencies at the state, local, and federal levels can use the results of this review as a resource when making decisions that meet the needs of PLWH to achieve the greatest impact on the HIV epidemic.

Impact evaluation of HIV/AIDS education in rural Henan province of China

Nowadays, there is a trend of HIV prevalence transmitting from high-risk group to average-risk group in China. Rural China is the weak link of HIV prevention, and rural areas of Henan province which is one of the most high-risk regions in China have more than 60% of the AIDS patients in the province. Thus, improving the HIV awareness and implementing health education become the top-priority of HIV/AIDS control and prevention. A multistage sampling was designed to draw 1129 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and 1168 non-PLWHAs in 4 prevalence counties of Henan province. A health promoting and social-psychological support model was constructed to improve the health knowledge of participants. Chi-square tests and unconditional logistic regression were performed to determine the intervention effect and influencing factors. All groups had misunderstandings towards the basic medical knowledge and the AIDS transmission mode. Before the intervention, 59.3% of the HIV/AIDS patients and 74.6% of the healthy people had negative attitudes towards the disease. There was statistically significant difference in the improvement of knowledge, attitude and action with regards to HIV prevention before and after intervention (P<0.05). PLWHAs who were males (OR=1.731) and had higher education level (OR=1.910) were found to have better HIV/AIDS health knowledge, whereas older PLWHAs (OR=0.961) were less likely to have better HIV/AIDS health knowledge. However, the intervention effect was associated with the expertise of doctors and supervisors, the content and methods of education, and participants' education level. It was concluded that health education of HIV/AIDS which positively influences the awareness and attitude of HIV prevention is popular in rural areas, therefore, a systematic and long-term program of HIV control and prevention is urgently needed in rural areas.

Community engagement to reduce inequalities in health: a systematic review, meta-analysis and economic analysis

Background

Community engagement has been advanced as a promising way of improving health and reducing health inequalities; however, the approach is not yet supported by a strong evidence base.

Objectives

To undertake a multimethod systematic review which builds on the evidence that underpins the current UK guidance on community engagement; to identify theoretical models underpinning community engagement; to explore mechanisms and contexts through which communities are engaged; to identify community engagement approaches that are effective in reducing health inequalities, under what circumstances and for whom; and to determine the processes and costs associated with their implementation.

Data sources

Databases including the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), The Campbell Library, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) database, the NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) and EPPI-Centre’s Trials Register of Promoting Health Interventions (TRoPHI) and Database of Promoting Health Effectiveness Reviews (DoPHER) were searched from 1990 to August 2011 for systematic reviews and primary studies. Trials evaluating community engagement interventions reporting health outcomes were included.

Review methods

Study eligibility criteria: published after 1990; outcome, economic, or process evaluation; intervention relevant to community engagement; written in English; measured and reported health or community outcomes, or presents cost, resource, or implementation data characterises study populations or reports differential impacts in terms of social determinants of health; conducted in an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country. Study appraisal: risk of bias for outcome evaluations; assessment of validity and relevance for process evaluations; comparison against an economic evaluation checklist for economic evaluations. Synthesis methods: four synthesis approaches were adopted for the different evidence types: theoretical, quantitative, process, and economic evidence.

Results

The theoretical synthesis identified key models of community engagement that are underpinned by different theories of changes. Results from 131 studies included in a meta-analysis indicate that there is solid evidence that community engagement interventions have a positive impact on health behaviours, health consequences, self-efficacy and perceived social support outcomes, across various conditions. There is insufficient evidence – particularly for long-term outcomes and indirect beneficiaries – to determine whether one particular model of community engagement is likely to be more effective than any other. There are also insufficient data to test the effects on health inequalities, although there is some evidence to suggest that interventions that improve social inequalities (as measured by social support) also improve health behaviours. There is weak evidence from the effectiveness and process evaluations that certain implementation factors may affect intervention success. From the economic analysis, there is weak but inconsistent evidence that community engagement interventions are cost-effective. By combining findings across the syntheses, we produced a new conceptual framework.

Limitations

Differences in the populations, intervention approaches and health outcomes made it difficult to pinpoint specific strategies for intervention effectiveness. The syntheses of process and economic evidence were limited by the small (generally not rigorous) evidence base.

Conclusions

Community engagement interventions are effective across a wide range of contexts and using a variety of mechanisms. Public health initiatives should incorporate community engagement into intervention design. Evaluations should place greater emphasis on long-term outcomes, outcomes for indirect beneficiaries, process evaluation, and reporting costs and resources data. The theories of change identified and the newly developed conceptual framework are useful tools for researchers and practitioners. We identified trends in the evidence that could provide useful directions for future intervention design and evaluation.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research programme.

Meta-Analysis of Interventions for Reducing Number of Sexual Partners and Drug and Alcohol Abuse among People Living with HIV/AIDS

OBJECTIVE

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of risk reduction interventions on HIV-related risk behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

METHODS

Studies included in the meta-analysis were randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of risk reduction interventions, which targeted PLWHA aged 18 year or older and assessed the changes of number of sexual partners, drug use, needle sharing, and/or alcohol abuse between pre- and post-intervention. The standardized mean differences (SMD) between study arms as well as between baseline and post-intervention, defined as the effect sizes (ES), were calculated in random effects models. Heterogeneity of studies was estimated by the I2 statistic.

RESULTS

Twelve RCTs involving 3993 PLWHA were included in our analysis: seven reported impacts on the number of sexual partners, and three reported impacts on drug use, needle sharing, and alcohol abuse, respectively. There were no statistically significant impacts of risk reduction interventions on the number of total sexual partners (mean ES, -0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.26, 0.06; P=0.22) or on the subset of HIV-negative or unknown-status sexual partners (mean ES, 0.003; 95% CI, -0.54, 0.54; P=0.99). Overall, risk reduction intervention studies documented a reduction of drug abuse (mean ES: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.51, -0.01; P=0.04) among HIV-infected drug users, but this impact was mainly attributable to one study. Risk reduction interventions did not show a reduction of needle sharing (mean ES, -0.15; 95% CI, -0.43, 0.13; P=0.29) or of alcohol abuse (mean ES, -0.10; 95% CI, -0.36, 0.17; P=0.47). No heterogeneity or publication bias was found across individual studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis did not find a positive impacts of risk reduction interventions on number of sexual partners, drug use, needle sharing, or alcohol abuse among PLWHA, but the small number of studies meeting our review criteria limits these findings.

Motivation, management, and mastery: a theory of resilience in the context of HIV infection

BACKGROUND

Clients with HIV infection have been conceptualized as a resilient population. Although a few researchers have documented resilience among clients with HIV infection, a theory of resilience in the context of HIV infection has not been developed. The purpose of this study was to describe the process by which resilience occurs for clients in the context of HIV infection.

METHOD

Grounded theory methodology was used to sample and analyze data from 15 qualitative interviews with adults with HIV infection. Data were collected until saturation was reached.

RESULTS

A theory, motivation, management, and mastery, a description of the process by which resilience occurs in the context of HIV infection, emerged from the data.

CONCLUSION

Many clients living with HIV infection are resilient, despite the physical, psychological, and social challenges of this chronic illness. Nursing interventions to promote resilience among clients with HIV infection should be directed toward identification of client motivation factors and disease management strategies that may influence health outcomes of people living with HIV infection.

Secondary prevention of HIV in the United States: past, current, and future perspectives

To provide a synopsis of past, current, and potential next-generation approaches to prevention for positives (PfP) interventions in the United States. For a variety of reasons, PfP interventions, with the goals of limiting HIV transmission from people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to others and protecting the health of PLWHA, did not appear with any frequency in the United States until about 2000. Even today, the number and breadth of evidence-based PfP interventions is very limited. Nevertheless, meta-analytic evidence demonstrates that such interventions can be effective, perhaps even more so than interventions targeting HIV-uninfected individuals. We review early and more recent PfP interventions and suggest that next-generation PfP interventions must involve behavioral and biologic components and target any element that affects HIV risk behavior and/or infectivity. Next-generation PfP interventions should include increased HIV testing to identify additional PLWHA, components to initiate and maintain HIV care, to initiate antiretroviral therapy and promote adherence, and to reduce sexual and injection drug use risk behavior, as well as ancillary treatments and referrals to services. Comprehensive next-generation PfP interventions, including all of these elements and effective linkages among them, are discussed.

Keeping them in "STYLE": finding, linking, and retaining young HIV-positive black and Latino men who have sex with men in care

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) of color are at particularly increased risk for HIV infection compared to white MSM. National data highlight the need to link YMSM of color to care to improve their overall health and stem further infections, yet, there is limited data on interventions and clinical outcomes focused on engaging and retaining youth, specifically HIV-infected YMSM of color in care. To address the medical care needs of this underserved population, in 2005, the Health Research and Services Administration (HRSA) created the YMSM of Color Initiative. Utilizing a social marketing campaign targeting youth and members of their sexual and social networks, testing and outreach on college campuses and within the broader community, and a tightly linked medical-social support network, we created STYLE (Strength Through Youth Livin' Empowered), a novel intervention that sought to diagnose, engage, and retain HIV-positive black and Latino YMSM in HIV primary care services. Over a 3-year period, 81 men were either newly diagnosed or reengaged in care. Overall, 63% of the cohort was retained in clinical care; defined as attending at least one medical visit every 4 months. Compared to the 3 years prior to STYLE, the odds ratio for whether or not someone attended a clinic visit was 2.58 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-4.98) if enrolled in STYLE. We conclude that compared to a pre-STYLE cohort, STYLE was an effective intervention that increased HIV diagnoses, provided efficient and timely engagement in care for both those newly diagnosed and those who had fallen out of care and improved overall retention.

Perceptions of audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) among women in an HIV-positive prevention program

BACKGROUND

Audio Computer-Assisted Self Interviewing (ACASI) has improved the reliability and accuracy of self-reported HIV health and risk behavior data, yet few studies account for how participants experience the data collection process.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

This exploratory qualitative analysis aimed to better understand the experience and implications of using ACASI among HIV-positive women participating in sexual risk reduction interventions in Chicago (n = 12) and Philadelphia (n = 18). Strategies of Grounded Theory were used to explore participants' ACASI experiences.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE

Key themes we identified included themes that could be attributed to the ACASI and other methods of data collection (e.g., paper-based self-administered questionnaire or face-to-face interviews). The key themes were usability; privacy and honesty; socially desirable responses and avoiding judgment; and unintentional discomfort resulting from recalling risky behavior using the ACASI. Despite both positive and negative findings about the ACASI experience, we conclude that ACASI is in general an appropriate method for collecting sensitive data about HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among HIV-positive women because it seemed to ensure privacy in the study population allowing for more honest responses, minimize socially desirable responses, and help participants avoid actual or perceived judgment.