"If She is Drunk, I Don't Want Her to Take it": Partner Beliefs and Influence on Use of Alcohol and Antiretroviral Therapy in South African Couples

Mlambe economic and relationship-strengthening intervention for alcohol use decreases violence and improves relationship quality in couples living with HIV in Malawi

INTRODUCTION

A syndemic of unhealthy alcohol use, intimate partner violence (IPV), and economic insecurity threatens to derail progress towards UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets in sub-Saharan Africa. We developed a combined economic and relationship-strengthening intervention called Mlambe to reduce unhealthy alcohol use and increase adherence to antiretroviral therapy for couples in Malawi. This study evaluates the additional impact of Mlambe on IPV and relationship dynamics.

METHODS

In a pilot randomized controlled trial, 78 married couples (156 individuals) living with HIV and reporting unhealthy alcohol use based on the AUDIT-C (at least one partner) were recruited from HIV care clinics in Zomba, Malawi. The intervention arm (39 couples) received a 10-month program consisting of incentivized savings accounts with financial literacy education, relationship education, and couples counseling sessions to build relationship skills. The control arm (39 couples) received enhanced usual care (EUC) with brief alcohol counseling. We used linear mixed-effects models to assess the effects of Mlambe on relationship quality (e.g., constructive communication, unity, sexual satisfaction) and IPV (physical, sexual, and emotional) by including fixed effects for treatment arm and a random effect for dyad, and tested whether effects on IPV and relationship quality differed by gender.

RESULTS

At 10- and 15-month follow-up visits, couples in the Mlambe arm showed greater increases in couple communication, unity, sexual satisfaction, intimacy, and trust (Cohen's d ranged from 0.36 to 0.56; p < 0.05) as compared to EUC. Couples in the Mlambe arm also showed significant decreases in physical and emotional IPV (Cohen's d ranged from 0.33 to 0.49; p < 0.05) as compared to EUC. Subsequent moderation analyses indicated that women reported significantly greater improvements in relationship quality than men, except for sexual satisfaction (p < 0.05), and greater declines in physical IPV than men (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Mlambe resulted in significant improvements in relationship quality and decreased IPV in couples, particularly for women who as a group reported lower relationship quality at baseline. Economic and relationship-strengthening interventions have potential to disrupt harmful syndemics of violence, substance use, and poverty among couples living with HIV.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

NCT#04906616.

Pilot Trial Results of Mlambe: An Economic and Relationship-Strengthening Intervention to Address Heavy Drinking and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Malawi

We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an economic and relationship-strengthening intervention to reduce heavy alcohol use among couples living with HIV in Malawi (Mlambe). Mlambe consisted of training on financial literacy and relationship skills, combined with 1:1 matched savings accounts to invest in an income-generating activity. In a randomized controlled trial, we compared Mlambe to enhanced usual care (EUC). We enrolled 78 married couples having a partner on antiretroviral therapy (ART) who reported heavy alcohol use based on the AUDIT-C. Using targets of 75%, primary outcomes included retention rates at 10 and 15-months, session attendance rates, and satisfaction with Mlambe. Exploratory outcomes were heavy alcohol use (AUDIT-C and/or PEth positive), number of drinking days in the past month, AUDIT-C score, optimal adherence to ART (95% or higher), and viral suppression. We exceeded our targets for feasibility and acceptability metrics. Retention rates were 96% at 15-months. Session attendance and satisfaction levels were both 100%. From baseline to 15-months, Mlambe participants reported decreases in mean number of drinking days (from 6.8 to 2.1) and AUDIT-C scores (from 7.5 to 3.1); while ART adherence rates improved across the same period (from 63.2 to 73.9%). Participants in Mlambe, as compared to those in EUC, had lower rates of heavy alcohol use (89.5% vs. 97.2%) and higher rates of viral suppression (100% vs. 91.9%) at 10-months. Differences between arms were not statistically significant in this small pilot study. Mlambe was highly feasible and acceptable, and shows promise for reducing heavy alcohol use and viral non-suppression among couples with HIV in a larger efficacy study.

Barriers, Facilitators, and Strategies to Improve Participation of a Couple-Based Intervention to Address Women's Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

BACKGROUND

Couple-based interventions (CBIs), despite strong efficacy in improving numerous HIV risk behaviors, are not widely available and have not been tested to improve women's antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. We examined barriers and facilitators to participation in a CBI based on cognitive behavioral couple therapy for women's ART adherence in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women with HIV (n = 15) and men of mixed HIV status (n = 15). Thematic analyses were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

RESULTS

Facilitators mostly related to the couple's relationship, including having an existing healthy relationship, men's desire to support their partners, and a potential opportunity for men's HIV disclosure. Barriers included a lack of understanding of how a CBI approach would be useful for women's ART adherence, sole focus on women if male partners were also living with HIV, and men's lack of prior HIV status disclosure to female partners.

CONCLUSION

Findings indicate that relationship context and the male partner's HIV status need to be addressed during recruitment, enrolment, and during the intervention to promote uptake.

Couples motivational interviewing with mobile breathalysers to reduce alcohol use in South Africa: a pilot randomised controlled trial of Masibambisane

INTRODUCTION

Heavy alcohol use among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa can hinder the success of HIV treatment programmes, impacting progress towards United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS goals. Primary partners can provide critical forms of social support to reduce heavy drinking and could be included in motivational interviewing (MI) interventions to address heavy drinking; however, few studies have evaluated MI interventions for couples living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a couple-based MI intervention with mobile breathalyser technology to reduce heavy alcohol use and improve HIV treatment outcomes among HIV-affected couples in South Africa.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will employ a three-arm randomised controlled trial to assess the efficacy of couple-based MI (MI-only arm) and in conjunction with mobile breathalysers (MI-plus arm) to address alcohol use and HIV outcomes, as compared with enhanced usual care (control arm). We will enrol heterosexual couples aged 18-49 in a primary relationship for at least 6 months who have at least one partner reporting hazardous alcohol use and on antiretroviral therapy for 6 months. Participants in both MI arms will attend three manualised counselling sessions and those in the MI-plus arm will receive real-time feedback on blood alcohol concentration levels using a mobile breathalyser. Couples randomised in the control arm will receive enhanced usual care based on the South African ART Clinical Guidelines. Feasibility and acceptability indicators will be analysed descriptively, and exploratory hypotheses will be examined through regression models considering time points and treatment arms.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study was approved by the University of California, San Francisco (HRPP; protocol number 21-35034) and Human Sciences Research Council Research Ethics Committee (REC: protocol number 1/27/20/21). We will disseminate the results at local community meetings, community-level health gatherings and conferences focused on HIV and alcohol use.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05756790.

Development of an Economic and Relationship-Strengthening Intervention for Alcohol Drinkers Living with HIV in Malawi

Heavy alcohol use among people with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa is driven by household economics such as poverty and unemployment and has negative impacts on couple relationships. Multilevel interventions have the potential to reduce alcohol use and improve relationship outcomes by addressing the web of co-occurring economic, social, and dyadic factors. This objective of this study was to develop an economic and relationship-strengthening intervention for couples in Malawi, consisting of matched savings accounts with financial literacy training and a couples counseling component to build relationship skills. Informed by the ADAPT-ITT framework, we collected multiple rounds of focus group data with key stakeholders and couples to gain input on the concept, session content, and procedures, held team meetings with field staff and an international team of researchers to tailor the intervention to couples in Malawi, and refined the intervention manual and components. The results describe a rigorous adaptation process based on the eight steps of ADAPT-ITT, insights gained from formative data and modifications made, and a description of the final intervention to be evaluated in a pilot randomized clinical trial. The economic and relationship-strengthening intervention shows great promise of being feasible, acceptable, and efficacious for couples affected by HIV and heavy alcohol use in Malawi.

"I think it's communication and trust and sharing everything": Qualitative evidence for a model of healthy intimate relationships in Black women living with HIV and men in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

In South Africa, couple-based interventions (CBIs) have been used to increase HIV testing, reduce HIV transmission, and shift relationship dynamics. To understand local definitions of healthy relationships, this study sought to collect qualitative data on a model of healthy relationships in a semi-rural area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with HIV-positive women (n = 15) and men of mixed HIV status (n = 15) who were in heterosexual, monogamous relationships (not with each other). Thematic analyses guided coding. Three primary healthy relationship behaviour themes emerged, labelled open communication, couple-level problem-solving, and active relationship building, which were related to various relationship facets (trust, support, respect, commitment, and connection). We purposively explored contextual themes, namely the role of HIV, positive community involvement, and power dynamics, to better situate the healthy relationship behaviour themes. HIV was not central to relationship conceptualisations and three different power structures (shared power/flexible gender norms, shared power/traditional gender norms, male-dominated power/traditional gender norms) were described as being healthy. This model of healthy relationships is similar to observed definitions in other African countries and in high-income settings. Findings can inform HIV programming content for couples in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly the active relationship building component.

Relationship Dynamics are Associated with Self-Reported Adherence but not an Objective Adherence Measure in Malawi

Couple relationships can be leveraged to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), but few studies have identified relationship factors to target in interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 211 couples in southern Malawi with at least one partner on ART to test for associations between ART adherence and relationship dynamics (intimacy, trust, relationship satisfaction, unity, commitment, and partner support). We measured ART adherence through subjective measures (patient and partner reports) and an objective measure (ART drug levels in hair) and hypothesized that more positive relationship dynamics (e.g., higher intimacy) would be associated with better adherence. Multi-level logistic and linear regression models were used to evaluate study hypotheses, controlling for the clustering of individuals within couples. High levels of adherence were found by all three measures. Unity, satisfaction, and partner support were associated with higher patient and partner reports of adherence, and additional relationship dynamics (intimacy, trust) were associated with higher partner reported adherence. No associations were found between relationship dynamics and drug levels in hair, although drug levels were high overall. Future studies should perform longitudinal assessments of relationship dynamics and objective metrics of adherence, and examine these associations in populations with lower adherence levels such as young women or individuals starting ART.

Alcohol-Antiretroviral Therapy Interactive Toxicity Beliefs and Intentional Medication Nonadherence: Review of Research with Implications for Interventions

The successful treatment of HIV infection relies on adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Alcohol use remains a threat to ART adherence, including the beliefs held by people who drink alcohol that it is harmful to take ART when consuming alcohol (i.e., alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs, AA-ITB). We reviewed the current research that has investigated AA-ITB and their relationship to intentional ART nonadherence. The review of 17 published studies found that AA-ITB are prevalent among people receiving ART and that AA-ITB are directly associated with ART nonadherence and incomplete HIV suppression. Family, friends and healthcare providers are common sources and reinforcers of AA-ITB. Studies suggest that AA-ITB may best be explained by the Medication Necessity and Concerns Beliefs Model, treating AA-ITB as a specific circumstance of medication concerns. Interventions are needed to communicate the realities of potential medication interactions and dispel myths that it is harmful to mix alcohol with ART, while not inadvertently suggesting that it is safe to drink with all medications, which could undermine adherence to ART by increasing alcohol use.

Testing for saturation in qualitative evidence syntheses: An update of HIV adherence in Africa

Background

A systematic review of randomised trials may be conclusive signalling no further research is needed; or identify gaps requiring further research that may then be included in review updates. In qualitative evidence synthesis (QES), the rationale, triggers, and methods for updating are less clear cut. We updated a QES on adherence to anti-retroviral treatment to examine if thematic saturation renders additional research redundant.

Methods

We adopted the original review search strategy and eligibility criteria to identify studies in the subsequent three years. We assessed studies for conceptual detail, categorised as ‘rich’ or ‘sparse’, coding the rich studies. We sought new codes, and appraised whether findings confirmed, extended, enriched, or refuted existing themes. Finally, we examined if the analysis impacted on the original conceptual model.

Results

After screening 3895 articles, 301 studies met the inclusion criteria. Rich findings from Africa were available in 82 studies; 146 studies were sparse, contained no additional information on specific populations, and did not contribute to the analysis. New studies enriched our understanding on the relationship between external and internal factors influencing adherence, confirming, extending and enriching the existing themes. Despite careful evaluation of the new literature, we did not identify any new themes, and found no studies that refuted our theory.

Conclusions

Updating an existing QES using the original question confirmed and sometimes enriched evidence within themes but made little or no substantive difference to the theory and overall findings of the original review. We propose this illustrates thematic saturation. We propose a thoughtful approach before embarking on a QES update, and our work underlines the importance of QES priority areas where further primary research may help, and areas where further studies may be redundant.

Ineffective health control: concept analysis

OBJECTIVES

to identify and synthesize the concept of Ineffective Health Control.

METHODS

Concept Analysis from the perspective of Walker and Avant, operationalized by an integrative review in the databases Scopus, LILACS, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Science Direct e Cochrane, using the descriptors: Adhesion to Medication; Cooperation and Adherence to Treatment and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

RESULTS

five critical attributes were identified for the concept, namely: patient's refusal to follow the therapeutic plan; abandoning treatment and worsening signs and symptoms; difficulty in reaching agreed goals; difficulty following health professionals' guidelines; multifactorial and dynamic process.

CONCLUSIONS

the concept of Ineffective Health Control is characterized by a multifactorial and dynamic process evidenced by the patient's refusal to follow a therapeutic plan, favouring the abandonment of treatment and resulting in the worsening of signs and symptoms and failure to reach goals.

The Unaddressed Needs of Alcohol-Using Couples on Antiretroviral Therapy in Malawi: Formative Research on Multilevel Interventions

Alcohol use among HIV-positive individuals in sub-Saharan Africa directly impacts adherence to antiretroviral therapy and HIV outcomes. Few studies have examined approaches to reduce alcohol use among HIV-affected couples, despite evidence that alcohol use is a couple-level concern. We conducted a qualitative study with 23 alcohol-using couples to identify multilevel barriers and facilitators of alcohol use, and potential intervention options with couples. Data were analyzed at individual and dyadic levels using framework analysis. All couples were married and had at least one partner on ART. Men were the primary alcohol drinkers with few women reporting alcohol use. Most women tried to persuade their partners to reduce their alcohol intake and when unsuccessful, enlisted help from relatives and HIV care providers. Effective couple negotiation around men's alcohol use was constrained by negative peer influence and men's desire for friendship to cope with life stressors. Women were primarily concerned about the expense of alcohol and described how alcohol prevented the family from meeting basic needs and investing in the future. Alcohol use was described as a major barrier to ART adherence, but was also viewed as the cause of couple and family violence, extramarital partnerships, food insecurity, and poverty. We conclude that multilevel interventions based on couples' needs and preferences are urgently needed. Couple-based intervention approaches could include provider-led alcohol counseling with couples, alcohol reduction support groups for couples, couples' counseling to bolster couple communication and problem-solving around alcohol, and economic-strengthening interventions for couples.

Alcohol-Related Intentional Antiretroviral Nonadherence among People Living with HIV: Test of an Interactive Toxicity Beliefs Process Model

Beliefs that it is harmful to mix medications with alcohol (ie, interactive toxicity beliefs) are a known source of intentional antiretroviral therapy (ART) nonadherence. This study examined a serial process model of alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs, alcohol-ART avoidance behaviors, and ART adherence in the association between alcohol use and HIV viral load. Participants were 198 patients receiving ART from a community clinic in the southeastern United States; 125 reported current alcohol use. Results showed that current alcohol use was associated with detectable HIV viral load, partially accounted for by alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs, alcohol-ART avoidance behaviors, and ART adherence. There was a significant indirect effect of the serial chain of interactive toxicity beliefs-avoidance behaviors-adherence, indicating the 3 intermediating variables partially accounted for the relationship between alcohol use and HIV viral load. Addressing alcohol use as a barrier to ART adherence requires multipronged approaches that address intentional nonadherence.

Stigmatisation of alcohol use among people receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection, Cape Town, South Africa

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively treats HIV infection, with improved longevity and quality of life among people living with HIV. Alcohol use, however, remains a robust barrier to ART. This study, for the first time, examined the effects of the stigmatisation of alcohol use on ART adherence. Patients receiving ART in Cape Town, South Africa who currently drink alcohol (N = 187) and those who do not drink alcohol (N = 106) completed measures of alcohol use, alcohol-ART adherence, and alcohol-ART stigma. Participants also provided permission to access their most recent HIV viral load from clinic medical records. Results of a mediation model demonstrated significant detrimental effects of alcohol use on ART adherence. In addition, the indirect effects of alcohol use on ART adherence through alcohol-ART stigma was also significant, indicating that alcohol-ART stigma at least in part mediates the association between alcohol use and ART adherence. The same pattern of results was observed in relation to HIV viral load obtained from medical records. Interventions designed to address alcohol use as a barrier to ART adherence should incorporate alcohol-ART stigma as a barrier to adherence as well as a barrier to participating in adherence interventions.

Alcohol-related beliefs and non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Cape Town, South Africa

The life-saving effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in treating HIV infection are compromised by alcohol use. A growing body of research shows that both unintentional (e.g., memory lapses) and intentional (e.g., forgoing ART to avoid mixing with alcohol) contribute to ART non-adherence. Beliefs that it is harmful to mix alcohol with ART (alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs) contribute to intentional non-adherence, but their role in overall adherence is not clear. This study conducted a clinic-based survey with 100 men and 193 women (mean age = 36) to examine the prevalence of alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs and whether they contribute to treatment non-adherence in South Africa. One in three (36%, n = 106) participants reported no current alcohol use and 64% (n = 187) reported current alcohol use. The majority of participants, including current alcohol drinkers, endorsed beliefs that it is harmful to mix ART and alcohol, with 57% who currently drink reporting that they forgo taking ART when they are drinking. Participants reported being warned not to mix alcohol and ART from family, friends, and health care providers. In addition, 62% of participants who do not drink, as well as 36% of those who do drink, tell others not to mix alcohol and ART. Mediation modelling found that alcohol use directly predicts ART adherence, and that this relationship is partially mediated by alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs. Health care providers can play a critical role in disputing interactive toxicity beliefs and encouraging patients to take ART even when they are drinking.

Alcohol-related intentional nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV, Cape Town, South Africa

Alcohol use may have significant negative impacts on individuals' ability to remain adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and may also yield other negative psychosocial, health-related, and behavioral outcomes. In addition, false beliefs about the consequences of mixing alcohol with ART use may cause individuals to avoid taking ART when drinking (alcohol-related ART avoidance). Although research conducted in the U.S. and Europe has reported on alcohol-ART avoidance, the current study presents among the first quantitative evidence of alcohol-related intentional ART nonadherence in South Africa. Patients receiving ART from a community clinic in Cape Town (N = 441) completed anonymous surveys of alcohol use, ART adherence, and alcohol-ART avoidance. Results showed that 292 (66%) participants reported current alcohol use; 25% who use alcohol believed that people who drink should stop taking ART when they are drinking and 24% stop their own ART when drinking. Alcohol-ART avoidance mediated the association between alcohol use and ART adherence. Results were robust when controlling for participant age, gender, current care status, and first- versus second-line ART. We found alcohol-ART avoidance may threaten successful ART in South Africa. Corrective messages that take a harm reduction approach to maximize ART adherence when drinking should be implemented in existing clinical services.

Couple Interdependence Impacts Alcohol Use and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Malawi

In sub-Saharan Africa, harmful alcohol use among male drinkers is high and has deleterious consequences on adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV clinical outcomes, and couple relationship dynamics. We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 25 Malawian couples on ART to understand how relationships influence adherence to ART, in which alcohol use emerged as a major theme. Almost half of men (40%) reported current or past alcohol use. Although alcohol use was linked to men's non-adherence, women buffered this harm by encouraging husbands to reduce alcohol use and by offering adherence support when men were drinking. Men's drinking interfered with being an effective treatment guardian for wives on ART and also weakened couple support systems needed for adherence. Relationship challenges including food insecurity, intimate partner violence, and extramarital relationships appeared to exacerbate the negative consequences of alcohol use on ART adherence. In this setting, alcohol may be best understood as a couple-level issue. Alcohol interventions for people living with HIV should consider approaches that jointly engage both partners.

Alcohol use and relationship quality among South African couples

OBJECTIVE

The HIV literature has largely ignored the importance of alcohol use in the quality of intimate relationships in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), despite evidence of alcohol's role in relational behaviors that increase risk for HIV infection and other harms. The present study explored the association of alcohol use with relationship functioning among heterosexual couples from rural South Africa.

METHOD

Dyadic analyses were conducted with 443 sexually active, heterosexual, South African couples (886 individuals) to examine the association between male partners' alcohol use (abstinent, nonhazardous, and hazardous), and male and female partners' reports of relationship intimacy, trust, mutually constructive communication, demand/withdraw communication, and satisfaction. Five structural equation models were fit using male partner alcohol use as a predictor of male and female reports of relationship quality.

RESULTS

Women with a hazardous-drinking male partner (compared to an abstainer) reported significantly higher levels of intimacy (p <.05) and significantly more demand/withdraw communication (p <.001); men who were hazardous drinkers reported significantly less trust in their relationship compared to men who were abstainers (p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Hazardous alcohol use among South African couples is positively correlated with women's relationship intimacy and maladaptive communication patterns, yet negatively correlated with men's perceived trust.

Couple-Level Dynamics and Multilevel Challenges Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Framework of Dyadic HIV Care

The primary romantic relationship may offer critical opportunities for improving HIV care among key populations affected by high rates of HIV infection and low rates of care engagement, such as black men who have sex with men. A conceptual framework is needed to identify dyadic processes involved in addressing challenges in retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. This study conducted dyadic and individual-level qualitative analyses of individual interviews with men living with HIV from 14 black gay couples (n = 28). Interviews explored each partner's perspectives on challenges to and supportive strategies for retention in care and medication adherence. Findings highlighted challenges at various levels of care engagement and patterns of dyadic interactions that impeded or facilitated HIV care. Couple-level processes (i.e., couple's resilience, interdependence) underlined a joint problem-solving approach toward addressing challenges in care engagement. Findings support a conceptual framework of dyadic HIV care that highlights the impacts of dyadic and individual factors on coordination of care and treatment to influence retention and adherence. The generalizability of study findings is limited by the small sample size. Implications for intervention design include leveraging drivers of partner support, including couples' resilience, in enhancing joint problem-solving in HIV care among black gay couples.

A Conceptual Model of Dyadic Coordination in HIV Care Engagement Among Couples of Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Qualitative Dyadic Analysis

Among Black men who have sex with men (MSM), HIV incidence is disproportionately high and HIV care engagement is disproportionately low. There may be important opportunities to leverage the primary relationship to improve engagement in HIV care and treatment among Black MSM couples. Using dyadic qualitative analysis of semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, we explored dyadic aspects of HIV care engagement among 14 Black MSM couples in which at least one partner was HIV-positive and identified as a Black cisgender man. Findings showed that men varied in how involved they were in their HIV-positive partner's care and treatment, and in how they reciprocated their partner's involvement. Patterns of dyadic HIV care engagement supported a conceptual model of dyadic coordination that describes Black MSM relationships in terms of two conceptual dimensions of dyadic HIV care engagement, and guides future intervention designs with Black MSM couples.

'I told her this is your life': relationship dynamics, partner support and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among South African couples

Despite the important role of social relationships for health and wellbeing, little is known about how primary partners affect adherence to HIV care and treatment. We qualitatively explored how relationship dynamics and partner support influence adherence among couples from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Twenty-four heterosexual couples with at least one HIV-positive partner completed semi-structured interviews on topics including relationship dynamics (intimacy or emotional closeness, communication, violence), experiences with HIV care and treatment and HIV-related social support. The majority of couples were seroconcordant HIV-positive (92%) and both on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (63%). Participants described how primary partners both interfered with and supported adherence. Negative forms of influence included relationship conflict, which resulted in forgetfulness to take pills, and men's attempt to control use of ART. However, participants were more likely to highlight positive forms of influence on adherence, which included social support (instrumental, informational and emotional), intimacy and commitment. The findings also suggest a reciprocal relationship between ART and relationships such that couple ART use may enhance relationship quality. Primary partners are important pillars of support for ART adherence, especially in contexts of high unemployment and poverty. Future interventions that encourage and leverage these supportive relationships could improve ART adherence among heterosexual couples in similar settings.