Improving AIDS Care After Trauma (ImpACT): Pilot Outcomes of a Coping intervention Among HIV-Infected Women with Sexual Trauma in South Africa

Understanding the Effects of Trauma Exposure, Life Stress, Intimate Partner Violence, and Depression on Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk in Post-Conflict Liberia

In sub-Saharan Africa, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a public health concern. The impact of STIs are exacerbated in post-conflict low- and middle-income countries, such as Liberia, where exposure to traumatic events is prevalent and access to mental health services are limited. Following a syndemics framework, this study used regression analyses to explore the independent, additive, and multiplicative effects of four psychosocial conditions (exposure to war-related traumatic events, intimate partner violence [IPV], stressful life events, and depressive symptoms) on self-reported STIs. Data were collected from 379 youth aged 18-30 years (n = 170 women; n = 179 men) in Montserrado County, Liberia. Results revealed that psychosocial variables correlated with each other and STI risk. In multivariable analysis, stressful life events, depressive symptoms, and IPV were statistically significant predictors of STI risk. We found support for an additive effect between the number of psychosocial conditions reported and STI risk, as well as a multiplicative effect (interaction) between IPV and depressive symptoms on STI risk. Our results suggest a synergy between experiencing psychosocial conditions and STI risk and point to the potential benefit of multi-level sexual health approaches that simultaneously address mental health and IPV among youth in Liberia.

What's in Your Dataset? Measuring Engagement in HIV Care Using Routinely Administered Items with a Population Disproportionately Burdened by HIV

We evaluated the psychometric properties of a measure consisting of items that assess current HIV care continuum engagement based on established definitions in the United States. At baseline, participants in this longitudinal study, which included three time points from 2015 to 2020, were 331 young Black sexual minority men ages 18-29 living with HIV in the southern United States residing in two large southern cities. Self-report items reflected four aspects of HIV care continuum engagement as binary variables: seeing a healthcare provider for HIV care, being on antiretroviral treatment, being retained in HIV care, and being virally suppressed. Of these, the following three variables loaded onto a single factor in exploratory factor analysis: being on antiretroviral treatment, being retained in HIV care, and being virally suppressed. A one-dimensional factor structure was confirmed using confirmatory factor analyses at separate time points. Additionally, the three items collectively showed measurement invariance by age, education level, employment status, and income level. The three-item measure also showed reliability based on coefficient omega and convergent validity in its associations with indicators of socioeconomic distress, depression, resilience, and healthcare empowerment. In sum, the items performed well as a single scale. The study demonstrated the potential psychometric strength of simple, feasible, commonly administered items assessing engagement in the HIV care continuum.

Piloting Safety and Stabilization: A Multi-component Trauma Intervention to Improve HIV Viral Suppression, Retention in Care, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a Southern United States HIV Service Organization

In this observational study, we assessed the extent to which a community-created pilot intervention, providing trauma-informed care for persons with HIV (PWH), affected HIV care retention and viral suppression among PWH attending an HIV Services Organization in the Southern US. PWH with trauma exposure and/or trauma symptoms (N = 166) were offered a screening and referral to treatment (SBIRT) session. Per self-selection, 30 opted-out, 29 received SBIRT-Only, 25 received SBIRT-only but reported receiving other behavioral health care elsewhere, and 82 participated in the Safety and Stabilization (S&S) Intervention. Estimates from multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated S&S Intervention participants had increased retention in HIV care (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.46, 95% CI 1.70-17.50) and viral suppression (aOR 17.74, 95% CI 1.83-172), compared to opt-out participants. Some evidence suggested that PTSD symptoms decreased for intervention participants. A randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm findings.

Addressing the unmet mental health needs of people living with HIV: a scoping review of interventions in sub-Saharan Africa

Some mental health interventions have addressed mental health among people living with HIV (PLWH) using a variety of approaches, but little is known about the details of such interventions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region that bears the largest burden of HIV in the world. The present study describes mental health interventions for PLWH in SSA regardless of the date and language of publication. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines, we identified 54 peer-reviewed articles on interventions addressing adverse mental health conditions among PLWH in SSA. The studies were conducted in 11 different countries, with the highest number of studies in South Africa (33.3%), Uganda (18.5%), Kenya (9.26%), and Nigeria (7.41%). While only one study was conducted before the year 2000, there was a gradual increase in the number of studies in the subsequent years. The studies were mostly conducted in hospital settings (55.5%), were non-pharmacologic (88.9%), and interventions were mostly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling. Task shifting was the primary implementation strategy used in four studies. Interventions addressing the mental health needs of PLWH that incorporates the unique challenges and opportunities in SSA is highly recommended.

A Trauma-Informed, Geospatially Aware, Just-in-Time Adaptive mHealth Intervention to Support Effective Coping Skills Among People Living With HIV in New Orleans: Development and Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

In 2020, Greater New Orleans, Louisiana, was home to 7048 people living with HIV-1083 per 100,000 residents, 2.85 times the US national rate. With Louisiana routinely ranked last in indexes of health equity, violent crime rates in Orleans Parish quintupling national averages, and in-care New Orleans people living with HIV surviving twice the US average of adverse childhood experiences, accessible, trauma-focused, evidence-based interventions (EBIs) for violence-affected people living with HIV are urgently needed.

OBJECTIVE

To meet this need, we adapted Living in the Face of Trauma, a well-established EBI tailored for people living with HIV, into NOLA GEM, a just-in-time adaptive mobile health (mHealth) intervention. This study aimed to culturally tailor and refine the NOLA GEM app and assess its acceptability; feasibility; and preliminary efficacy on care engagement, medication adherence, viral suppression, and mental well-being among in-care people living with HIV in Greater New Orleans.

METHODS

The development of NOLA GEM entailed identifying real-time tailoring variables via a geographic ecological momentary assessment (GEMA) study (n=49; aim 1) and place-based and user-centered tailoring, responsive to the unique cultural contexts of HIV survivorship in New Orleans, via formative interviews (n=12; aim 2). The iOS- and Android-enabled NOLA GEM app leverages twice-daily GEMA prompts to offer just-in-time, in-app recommendations for effective coping skills practice and app-delivered Living in the Face of Trauma session content. For aim 3, the pilot trial will enroll an analytic sample of 60 New Orleans people living with HIV individually randomized to parallel NOLA GEM (intervention) or GEMA-alone (control) arms at a 1:1 allocation for a 21-day period. Acceptability and feasibility will be assessed via enrollment, attrition, active daily use through paradata metrics, and prevalidated usability measures. At the postassessment time point, primary end points will be assessed via a range of well-validated, domain-specific scales. Care engagement and viral suppression will be assessed via past missed appointments and self-reported viral load at 30 and 90 days, respectively, and through well-demonstrated adherence self-efficacy measures.

RESULTS

Aims 1 and 2 have been achieved, NOLA GEM is in Beta, and all aim-3 methods have been reviewed and approved by the institutional review board of Tulane University. Recruitment was launched in July 2023, with a target date for follow-up assessment completion in December 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

By leveraging user-centered development and embracing principles that elevate the lived expertise of New Orleans people living with HIV, mHealth-adapted EBIs can reflect community wisdom on posttraumatic resilience. Sustainable adoption of the NOLA GEM app and a promising early efficacy profile will support the feasibility of a future fully powered clinical trial and potential translation to new underserved settings in service of holistic survivorship and well-being of people living with HIV.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05784714; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05784714.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/47151.

Psychosocial interventions for survivors of rape and sexual assault experienced during adulthood

BACKGROUND

Exposure to rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse has lifelong impacts for mental health and well-being. Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) are among the most common interventions offered to survivors to alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological impacts. Beyond such trauma-focused cognitive and behavioural approaches, there is a range of low-intensity interventions along with new and emerging non-exposure based approaches (trauma-sensitive yoga, Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories and Lifespan Integration). This review presents a timely assessment of international evidence on any type of psychosocial intervention offered to individuals who experienced rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse as adults.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of psychosocial interventions on mental health and well-being for survivors of rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse experienced during adulthood.

SEARCH METHODS

In January 2022, we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, 12 other databases and three trials registers. We also checked reference lists of included studies, contacted authors and experts, and ran forward citation searches.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Any study that allocated individuals or clusters of individuals by a random or quasi-random method to a psychosocial intervention that promoted recovery and healing following exposure to rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse in those aged 18 years and above compared with no or minimal intervention, usual care, wait-list, pharmacological only or active comparison(s). We classified psychosocial interventions according to Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Group's psychological therapies list.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 36 studies (1991 to 2021) with 3992 participants randomly assigned to 60 experimental groups (3014; 76%) and 23 inactive comparator conditions (978, 24%). The experimental groups consisted of: 32 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); 10 behavioural interventions; three integrative therapies; three humanist; five other psychologically oriented interventions; and seven other psychosocial interventions. Delivery involved 1 to 20 (median 11) sessions of traditional face-to-face (41) or other individual formats (four); groups (nine); or involved computer-only interaction (six). Most studies were conducted in the USA (n = 26); two were from South Africa; two from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; with single studies from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Five studies did not disclose a funding source, and all disclosed sources were public funding. Participants were invited from a range of settings: from the community, through the media, from universities and in places where people might seek help for their mental health (e.g. war veterans), in the aftermath of sexual trauma (sexual assault centres and emergency departments) or for problems that accompany the experience of sexual violence (e.g. sexual health/primary care clinics). Participants randomised were 99% women (3965 participants) with just 27 men. Half were Black, African or African-American (1889 participants); 40% White/Caucasian (1530 participants); and 10% represented a range of other ethnic backgrounds (396 participants). The weighted mean age was 35.9 years (standard deviation (SD) 9.6). Eighty-two per cent had experienced rape or sexual assault in adulthood (3260/3992). Twenty-two studies (61%) required fulfilling a measured PTSD diagnostic threshold for inclusion; however, 94% of participants (2239/2370) were reported as having clinically relevant PTSD symptoms at entry. The comparison of psychosocial interventions with inactive controls detected that there may be a beneficial effect at post-treatment favouring psychosocial interventions in reducing PTSD (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.22 to -0.44; 16 studies, 1130 participants; low-certainty evidence; large effect size based on Cohen's D); and depression (SMD -0.82, 95% CI -1.17 to -0.48; 12 studies, 901 participants; low-certainty evidence; large effect size). Psychosocial interventions, however, may not increase the risk of dropout from treatment compared to controls, with a risk ratio of 0.85 (95% CI 0.51 to 1.44; 5 studies, 242 participants; low-certainty evidence). Seven of the 23 studies (with 801 participants) comparing a psychosocial intervention to an inactive control reported on adverse events, with 21 events indicated. Psychosocial interventions may not increase the risk of adverse events compared to controls, with a risk ratio of 1.92 (95% CI 0.30 to 12.41; 6 studies; 622 participants; very low-certainty evidence). We conducted an assessment of risk of bias using the RoB 2 tool on a total of 49 reported results. A high risk of bias affected 43% of PTSD results; 59% for depression symptoms; 40% for treatment dropout; and one-third for adverse events. The greatest sources of bias were problems with randomisation and missing outcome data. Heterogeneity was also high, ranging from I2 = 30% (adverse events) to I2 = 87% (PTSD).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Our review suggests that survivors of rape, sexual violence and sexual abuse during adulthood may experience a large reduction in post-treatment PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms after experiencing a psychosocial intervention, relative to comparison groups. Psychosocial interventions do not seem to increase dropout from treatment or adverse events/effects compared to controls. However, the number of dropouts and study attrition were generally high, potentially missing harms of exposure to interventions and/or research participation. Also, the differential effects of specific intervention types needs further investigation. We conclude that a range of behavioural and CBT-based interventions may improve the mental health of survivors of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse in the short term. Therefore, the needs and preferences of individuals must be considered in selecting suitable approaches to therapy and support. The primary outcome in this review focused on the post-treatment period and the question about whether benefits are sustained over time persists. However, attaining such evidence from studies that lack an active comparison may be impractical and even unethical. Thus, we suggest that studies undertake head-to-head comparisons of different intervention types; in particular, of novel, emerging therapies, with one-year plus follow-up periods. Additionally, researchers should focus on the therapeutic benefits and costs for subpopulations such as male survivors and those living with complex PTSD.

The truth project- paper two- using staff training and consultation to inculcate a testimonial sensibility in non-specialist staff teams working with survivors of child sexual abuse

This paper explores how trauma informed training and consultation for non-specialist staff at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales enabled them to work with survivors of non-recent child sexual abuse in the Truth Project and other areas of the Inquiry. The paper draws on data gathered from 32 semi-structured interviews with a range of Inquiry staff, including civil servants, legal professionals, senior operational managers, and researchers. The interview questions mapped on to the trauma informed principles embedded in the Inquiry and considered the efficacy and implementation of this training for engaging with survivors' voices, working with challenging testimonies and materials, and contributing to epistemic change. Findings included all staff having an awareness of what it meant to be trauma informed in an Inquiry context, talking about the principles in terms of value-based positions. Staff described an awareness of needing to attend to the idiosyncratic experiences of the individual survivor, and there was recognition that previous damage to survivor trust, through institutional failure, meant that demonstrating trustworthiness was a central task. Staff talked about the impacts of participation on some survivors, and the impacts it had on them to be exposed to trauma-related materials. There was acknowledgment of the limitations of the trauma informed approach but also recognition of the wider applications of this learning for other areas of their personal and professional lives. There is some support for the therapeutic culture developed at the Inquiry leading to what Fricker refers to as a testimonial sensibility, a quality of listening necessary for the establishment of epistemic justice. The discussion focuses on how this way of working can be applied to other public service settings and how epistemic justice concepts can be included in more traditional trauma informed care models to encourage an ethic of listening that has political and social, in addition to therapeutic, outcomes.

Coping Strategies and Symptoms of Mental Health Disorders Among People with HIV Initiating HIV Care in Cameroon

Little is known about the coping strategies used among people with HIV (PWH), especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and the extent to which adaptive or maladaptive coping strategies are associated with symptoms of mental health disorders. We interviewed 426 PWH initiating HIV care in Cameroon and reported the prevalence of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, overall and by presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Log binominal regression was used to estimate the association between each type of coping strategy (adaptive or maladaptive) and symptoms of each mental health disorder, separately. Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were commonly reported among PWH enrolling in HIV care in Cameroon. Across all mental health disorders assessed, greater maladaptive coping was associated with higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Adaptive coping was not associated with symptoms of any of the mental health disorders assessed in bivariate or multivariable models. Our study found that PWH endorsed a range of concurrent adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. Future efforts should explore the extent to which coping strategies change throughout the HIV care continuum. Interventions to reduce maladaptive coping have the potential to improve the mental health of PWH in Cameroon.

Intersecting Relationships of Psychosocial and Structural Syndemic Problems Among People with HIV in South Africa: Using Network Analysis to Identify Influential Problems

In South Africa, little is known about interrelationships between syndemic problems among people with HIV (PWH). A better understanding of syndemic problems may yield important information regarding factors amenable to mitigation. We surveyed 194 PWH in Khayelitsha, outside of Cape Town, South Africa. We used network analysis to examine the frequency of 10 syndemic problems and their interrelationships. Syndemic problems among PWH in South Africa were common; 159 (82.8%) participants reported at least 2 co-occurring syndemic problems and 90 (46.9%) endorsed 4 or more. Network analysis revealed seven statistically significant associations. The most central problems were depression, substance use, and food insecurity. Three clusters of syndemics were identified: mood and violence; structural factors; and behavioral factors. Depression, substance use, and food insecurity commonly co-occur among PWH in sub-Saharan Africa and interfere with HIV outcomes. Network analysis can identify intervention targets to potentially improve HIV treatment outcomes.

Describing Engagement in the HIV Care Cascade: A Methodological Study

Introduction

Engagement in the HIV care cascade is required for people living with HIV (PLWH) to achieve an undetectable viral load. However, varying definitions of engagement exist, contributing to heterogeneity in research regarding how many individuals are actively participating and benefitting from care. A standardized definition is needed to enhance comparability and pooling of data from engagement studies.

Objectives

The objective of this paper was to describe the various definitions for engagement used in HIV clinical trials.

Methods

Articles were retrieved from CASCADE, a database of 298 clinical trials conducted to improve the HIV care cascade (https://hivcarecascade.com/), curated by income level, vulnerable population, who delivered the intervention, the setting in which it was delivered, the intervention type, and the level of pragmatism of the intervention. Studies with engagement listed as an outcome were selected from this database.

Results

13 studies were eligible, of which five did not provide an explicit definition for engagement. The remaining studies used one or more of the following: appointment adherence (n=6), laboratory testing (n=2), adherence to antiretroviral therapy (n=2), time specification (n=5), intervention adherence (n=5), and quality of interaction (n=1).

Conclusion

This paper highlights the existing diversity in definitions for engagement in the HIV care cascade and categorize these definitions into appointment adherence, laboratory testing, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, time specification, intervention adherence, and quality of interaction. We recommend consensus on how to describe and measure engagement.

Conceptualising engagement with HIV care for people on treatment: the Indicators of HIV Care and AntiRetroviral Engagement (InCARE) Framework

BACKGROUND

As the crisis-based approach to HIV care evolves to chronic disease management, supporting ongoing engagement with HIV care is increasingly important to achieve long-term treatment success. However, 'engagement' is a complex concept and ambiguous definitions limit its evaluation. To guide engagement evaluation and development of interventions to improve HIV outcomes, we sought to identify critical, measurable dimensions of engagement with HIV care for people on treatment from a health service-delivery perspective.

METHODS

We used a pragmatic, iterative approach to develop a framework, combining insights from researcher experience, a narrative literature review, framework mapping, expert stakeholder input and a formal scoping review of engagement measures. These inputs helped to refine the inclusion and definition of important elements of engagement behaviour that could be evaluated by the health system.

RESULTS

The final framework presents engagement with HIV care as a dynamic behaviour that people practice rather than an individual characteristic or permanent state, so that people can be variably engaged at different points in their treatment journey. Engagement with HIV care for those on treatment is represented by three measurable dimensions: 'retention' (interaction with health services), 'adherence' (pill-taking behaviour), and 'active self-management' (ownership and self-management of care). Engagement is the product of wider contextual, health system and personal factors, and engagement in all dimensions facilitates successful treatment outcomes, such as virologic suppression and good health. While retention and adherence together may lead to treatment success at a particular point, this framework hypothesises that active self-management sustains treatment success over time. Thus, evaluation of all three core dimensions is crucial to realise the individual, societal and public health benefits of antiretroviral treatment programmes.

CONCLUSIONS

This framework distils a complex concept into three core, measurable dimensions critical for the maintenance of engagement. It characterises elements that the system might assess to evaluate engagement more comprehensively at individual and programmatic levels, and suggests that active self-management is an important consideration to support lifelong optimal engagement. This framework could be helpful in practice to guide the development of more nuanced interventions that improve long-term treatment success and help maintain momentum in controlling a changing epidemic.

Prevalence of potentially traumatic events and symptoms of depression, anxiety, hazardous alcohol use, and post-traumatic stress disorder among people with HIV initiating HIV care in Cameroon

BACKGROUND

This study explored the relationship between specific types of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and symptoms of mental health disorders among people with HIV (PWH) in Cameroon.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study with 426 PWH in Cameroon between 2019-2020. Multivariable log binominal regression was used to estimate the association between exposure (yes/no) to six distinct types of PTE and symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score > 9), PTSD (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 score > 30), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale score > 9), and hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score > 7 for men; > 6 for women).

RESULTS

A majority of study participants (96%) reported exposure to at least one PTE, with a median of 4 PTEs (interquartile range: 2-5). The most commonly reported PTEs were seeing someone seriously injured or killed (45%), family members hitting or harming one another as a child (43%), physical assault or abuse from an intimate partner (42%) and witnessing physical assault or abuse (41%). In multivariable analyses, the prevalence of PTSD symptoms was significantly higher among those who reported experiencing PTEs during childhood, violent PTEs during adulthood, and the death of a child. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was significantly higher among those who reported experiencing both PTEs during childhood and violent PTEs during adulthood. No significant positive associations were observed between specific PTEs explored and symptoms of depression or hazardous alcohol use after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

PTEs were common among this sample of PWH in Cameroon and associated with PTSD and anxiety symptoms. Research is needed to foster primary prevention of PTEs and to address the mental health sequelae of PTEs among PWH.

The effects of intimate partner violence on women's risk of HIV acquisition and engagement in the HIV treatment and care cascade: a pooled analysis of nationally representative surveys in sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

Achieving the 95-95-95 targets for HIV diagnosis, treatment, and viral load suppression to end the HIV epidemic hinges on eliminating structural inequalities, including intimate partner violence (IPV). Sub-Saharan Africa has among the highest prevalence of IPV and HIV worldwide. We aimed to examine the effects of IPV on recent HIV infection and women's engagement in the HIV care cascade in sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS

We did a retrospective pooled analysis of data from nationally representative, cross-sectional surveys with information on physical or sexual IPV (or both) and HIV testing, from Jan 1, 2000, to Dec 31, 2020. Relevant surveys were identified from data catalogues and previous large-scale reviews, and included the Demographic and Health Survey, the AIDS Indicator Survey, the Population-based HIV Impact Assessment, and the South Africa National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behavior and Communication Survey. Individual-level data on all female respondents who were ever-partnered (currently or formerly married or cohabiting) and aged 15 years or older were included. We used Poisson regression to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for the association between past-year experience of physical or sexual IPV (or both), as the primary exposure, and recent HIV infection (measured with recency assays), as the primary outcome. We also assessed associations of past-year IPV with self-reported HIV testing (also in the past year), and antiretroviral therapy (ART) uptake and viral load suppression at the time of surveying. Models were adjusted for participant age, age at sexual debut (HIV recency analysis), urban or rural residency, partnership status, education, and survey-level fixed effects.

FINDINGS

57 surveys with data on self-reported HIV testing and past-year physical or sexual IPV were available from 30 countries, encompassing 280 259 ever-partnered women aged 15-64 years. 59 456 (21·2%) women had experienced physical or sexual IPV in the past year. Six surveys had information on recent HIV infection and seven had data on ART uptake and viral load suppression. The crude PR for recent HIV infection among women who had experienced past-year physical or sexual IPV, versus those who had not, was 3·51 (95% CI 1·64-7·51; n=19 179). The adjusted PR was 3·22 (1·51-6·85). Past-year physical or sexual IPV had minimal effect on self-reported HIV testing in the past year in crude analysis (PR 0·97 [0·96-0·98]; n=274 506) and adjusted analysis (adjusted PR 0·99 [0·98-1·01]). Results were inconclusive for the association of ART uptake with past-year IPV among women living with HIV (crude PR 0·90 [0·85-0·96], adjusted PR 0·96 [0·90-1·02]; n=5629). Women living with HIV who had experienced physical or sexual IPV in the past year were less likely to achieve viral load suppression than those who had not experienced past-year IPV (crude PR 0·85 [0·79-0·91], adjusted PR 0·91 [0·84-0·98], n=5627).

INTERPRETATION

Past-year physical or sexual IPV was associated with recent HIV acquisition and less frequent viral load suppression. Preventing IPV is inherently imperative but eliminating IPV could contribute to ending the HIV epidemic.

FUNDING

Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canada Research Chairs Program, and Fonds de recherche du Québec-Santé.

TRANSLATIONS

For the French, Spanish and Portuguese translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Profiles of depressive symptoms and influential factors among people living with HIV in China

BACKGROUND

Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH). We leveraged Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to identify profiles of depressive symptoms among PLWHs. We also investigated differences in psychological factors of interest, demographic characteristics, and HIV-related factors across patients' profiles.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted at one hospital and two designated prison facilities in Hunan province, China. A total sample of 533 PLWHs (320 recruited from the hospital, 213 recruited from prisons) completed the survey. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Family function, resilience, childhood trauma, demographic characteristics, and HIV-related factors were also evaluated. We conducted LPA and multinomial logistic regression analyses to: 1) identify distinct profiles for depressive symptoms; 2) identify demographic characteristics, and HIV-related, and psychological factors predicting PLWHs' likelihood to express a specific profile.

RESULTS

We identified three distinct profiles of depressive symptoms among PLWHs: severe symptoms (11.8%), moderate symptoms (40.5%), and low/no symptoms (47.7%). Moderate/ severe family dysfunction, low resilience, experiencing emotional abuse and neglect were more likely to fall in the "severe symptoms" rather than the "low/no symptoms" profile. In addition, severe family dysfunction, low resilience, and experiencing emotional neglect indicated a higher likelihood of being classified in the "moderate symptoms" profile, compared to the "low/no symptoms" profile.

CONCLUSION

Identifying profiles of depressive symptoms among PLWHs using the PHQ-9 items allows for understanding of the distinct paths of development of depressive symptoms and for developing tailored prevention and intervention programs for PLWHs.

Study protocol: A randomised trial of the effectiveness of the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA) for improving HIV treatment outcomes among women experiencing intimate partner violence in South Africa

INTRODUCTION

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a barrier to consistent HIV treatment in South Africa. Previous trials have established that the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), a cognitive-behavioural-based intervention, is effective in reducing mental and behavioural health problems but has not been trialled for effectiveness in improving HIV outcomes. This paper describes the protocol for a randomised trial that is testing the effectiveness of CETA in improving HIV treatment outcomes among women experiencing IPV in South Africa.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We are conducting a randomised trial among HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy, who have experienced sexual and/or physical IPV, to test the effect of CETA on increasing retention and viral suppression and reducing IPV. Women living with HIV who have an unsuppressed viral load or are at high risk for poor adherence and report experiencing recent IPV, defined as at least once within in the last 12 months, will be recruited from HIV clinics and randomised 1:1 to receive CETA or an active attention control (text message reminders). All participants will be followed for 24 months. Follow-up HIV data will be collected passively using routinely collected medical records. HIV outcomes will be assessed at 12 and 24 months post-baseline. Questionnaires on violence, substance use and mental health will be administered at baseline, post-CETA completion and at 12 months post-baseline. Our primary outcome is retention and viral suppression (<50 copies/mL) by 12 months post-baseline. We will include 400 women which will give us 80% power to detect an absolute 21% difference between arms. Our primary analysis will be an intention-to-treat comparison of intervention and control by risk differences with 95% CIs.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval provided by University of the Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical), Boston University Institutional Review Board and Johns Hopkins School Institutional Review Board. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04242992.

Intimate partner violence and HIV treatment adherence in urban South Africa: Mediating role of perinatal common mental disorders

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has potential to eliminate perinatal HIV infections, but adherence to ART in late pregnancy and postpartum is often suboptimal. Intimate partner violence (IPV) may influence non-adherence among perinatal women living with HIV (WWH), but few quantitative studies have examined this over time or explored mechanisms for this association.

Methods

We used secondary data from a parent trial in Johannesburg comprising WWH from the control arm (n=63) and WWH ineligible for the trial (n=133). Trained nurse researchers administered questionnaires at first antenatal visit on past-year psychological, physical, and/or sexual IPV (WHO instrument), socio-demographics (age, food security, education), and perinatal common mental symptoms of depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Screener-d); anxiety (HADS-a); post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Harvard Trauma Questionnaire). At endline visit 2-4 months postpartum, nurse researchers assessed self-reported ART adherence using a visual analog scale (with ≥95% considered "good"). We fitted structural equation models (SEM) in MPlus to explore direct and indirect effects of IPV on ART adherence.

Results

Of 196 perinatal WWH, 53.1% reported IPV exposure at baseline. The majority of participants (85.7%) had good perinatal ART adherence. In adjusted models, IPV at baseline was associated with halved odds of good adherence (aOR=0.51, 95%CI=0.20-0.96). IPV was associated with higher adjusted odds of probable depression (aOR=4.64), anxiety (aOR=2.85), and PTSD (aOR=3.42). In SEM, IPV had a direct (standardized coef=-0.22) and indirect effect (coef=-0.05) on ART via common mental disorders. The total effect of IPV on perinatal adherence was of moderate size (coef= -0.27) and the model had good fit (CFI=0.972; TLI=0.969; RMSEA=0.045; SRMR=0.076).

Conclusion

IPV was longitudinally associated with perinatal ART non-adherence in part due to its relationship with mental health symptomology. Addressing IPV within clinical care has potential to improve perinatal mental health, maternal HIV outcomes, and HIV-free infant survival.

Mapping the availability of translated versions of posttraumatic stress disorder screening questionnaires for adults: A scoping review

Background: The most used questionnaires for PTSD screening in adults were developed in English. Although many of these questionnaires were translated into other languages, the procedures used to translate them and to evaluate their reliability and validity have not been consistently documented. This comprehensive scoping review aimed to compile the currently available translated and evaluated questionnaires used for PTSD screening, and highlight important gaps in the literature.Objective: This review aimed to map the availability of translated and evaluated screening questionnaires for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for adults.Methods: All peer-reviewed studies in which a PTSD screening questionnaire for adults was translated, and which reported at least one result of a qualitative and /or quantitative evaluation procedure were included. The literature was searched using Embase, MEDLINE, and APA PsycInfo, citation searches and contributions from study team members. There were no restrictions regarding the target languages of the translations. Data on the translation procedure, the qualitative evaluation, the quantitative evaluation (dimensionality of the questionnaire, reliability, and performance), and open access were extracted.Results: A total of 866 studies were screened, of which 126 were included. Collectively, 128 translations of 12 different questionnaires were found. Out of these, 105 (83.3%) studies used a forward and backward translation procedure, 120 (95.2%) assessed the reliability of the translated questionnaire, 60 (47.6%) the dimensionality, 49 (38.9%) the performance, and 42 (33.3%) used qualitative evaluation procedures. Thirty-four questionnaires (27.0%) were either freely available or accessible on request.Conclusions: The analyses conducted and the description of the methods and results varied substantially, making a quality assessment impractical. Translations into languages spoken in middle- or low-income countries were underrepresented. In addition, only a small proportion of all translated questionnaires were available. Given the need for freely accessible translations, an online repository was developed.HIGHLIGHTS We mapped the availability of translated PTSD screening questionnaires.The quality of the translation and validation processes is very heterogenous.We created a repository for translated, validated PTSD screening questionnaires.

Intervention program needs for older adults living with HIV who are childhood sexual abuse survivors

OBJECTIVES

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) prevalence estimates range from 8-11% among older adults and may range from 16 to 22% among older adults living with HIV (OALH). CSA experiences can still impact the quality of life of older adults. To the best of our knowledge, however, there are no CSA-focused interventions tailored for OALH. Using a qualitative approach, this study characterized the desired components of a trauma-focused intervention for OALH who are CSA survivors.

METHODS

Twenty-four (24) adults aged 50 years of age or older who were living with HIV and had experienced CSA were recruited from a large HIV immunology center in South Carolina. Participants completed in-depth, qualitative, semi-structured interviews. We iteratively examined verbatim transcripts using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three main themes emerged: program format and modality, program content, and program coordinator. Most participants expressed a desire for a trauma-focused intervention program in which the CSA experience was addressed and they could talk to someone either individually, as a group, and/or both.

CONCLUSION

A trauma-focused intervention addressing CSA may be helpful for OALH who are CSA survivors. Future research should focus on designing and implementing age-appropriate interventions addressing the CSA experience, increasing resilience, and developing adaptive coping skills.

The importance of assessing and addressing mental health barriers to PrEP use during pregnancy and postpartum in sub-Saharan Africa: state of the science and research priorities

Introduction

Pregnant and postpartum women (PPW) in sub‐Saharan Africa are at disproportionately high risk of HIV infection compared to non‐pregnant women. When used consistently, pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can prevent HIV acquisition and transmission to the foetus or infant during these critical periods. Recent studies have demonstrated associations between mental health challenges (e.g. depression and traumatic stress associated with intimate partner violence) and decreased PrEP adherence and persistence, particularly among adolescents, younger women and women in the postpartum period. However, mental health is not currently a major focus of PrEP implementation research and programme planning for PPW.

Discussion

PrEP implementation programmes for PPW need to assess and address mental health barriers to consistent PrEP use to ensure effectiveness and sustainability in routine care. We highlight three key research priorities that will support PrEP adherence and persistence: (1) include mental health screening tools in PrEP implementation research with PPW, both to assess the feasibility of integrating these tools into routine antenatal and postpartum care and to ensure that limited resources are directed towards women whose symptoms may interfere most with PrEP use; (2) identify cross‐cutting, transdiagnostic psychological mechanisms that affect consistent PrEP use during these periods and can realistically be targeted with intervention in resource‐limited settings; and (3) develop/adapt and test interventions that target those underlying mechanisms, leveraging strategies from existing interventions that have successfully mitigated mental health barriers to antiretroviral therapy use among people with HIV.

Conclusions

For PPW, implementation of PrEP should be guided by a robust understanding of the unique psychological difficulties that may act as barriers to uptake, adherence and persistence (i.e. sustained adherence over time). We strongly encourage PrEP implementation research in PPW to incorporate validated mental health screening tools and ultimately treatment in routine antenatal and postnatal care, and we stress the potential public health benefits of identifying women who face mental health barriers to PrEP use.

Measuring patient engagement with HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping study

INTRODUCTION

Engagement with HIV care is a multi-dimensional, dynamic process, critical to maintaining successful treatment outcomes. However, measures of engagement are not standardized nor comprehensive. This undermines our understanding of the scope of challenges with engagement and whether interventions have an impact, complicating patient and programme-level decision-making. This study identified and characterized measures of engagement to support more consistent and comprehensive evaluation.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping study to systematically categorize measures the health system could use to evaluate engagement with HIV care for those on antiretroviral treatment. Key terms were used to search literature databases (Embase, PsychINFO, Ovid Global-Health, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane and the World Health Organization Index Medicus), Google Scholar and stakeholder-identified manuscripts, ultimately including English evidence published from sub-Saharan Africa from 2014 to 2021. Measures were extracted, organized, then reviewed with key stakeholders.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We screened 14,885 titles/abstracts, included 118 full-texts and identified 110 measures of engagement, categorized into three engagement dimensions ("retention," "adherence" and "active self-management"), a combination category ("multi-dimensional engagement") and "treatment outcomes" category (e.g. viral load as an end-result reflecting that engagement occurred). Retention reflected status in care, continuity of attendance and visit timing. Adherence was assessed by a variety of measures categorized into primary (prescription not filled) and secondary measures (medication not taken as directed). Active self-management reflected involvement in care and self-management. Three overarching use cases were identified: research to make recommendations, routine monitoring for quality improvement and strategic decision-making and assessment of individual patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Heterogeneity in conceptualizing engagement with HIV care is reflected by the broad range of measures identified and the lack of consensus on "gold-standard" indicators. This review organized metrics into five categories based on the dimensions of engagement; further work could identify a standardized, minimum set of measures useful for comprehensive evaluation of engagement for different use cases. In the interim, measurement of engagement could be advanced through the assessment of multiple categories for a more thorough evaluation, conducting sensitivity analyses with commonly used measures for more comparable outputs and using longitudinal measures to evaluate engagement patterns. This could improve research, programme evaluation and nuanced assessment of individual patient engagement in HIV care.

Measuring patient engagement with HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping study

INTRODUCTION

Engagement with HIV care is a multi-dimensional, dynamic process, critical to maintaining successful treatment outcomes. However, measures of engagement are not standardized nor comprehensive. This undermines our understanding of the scope of challenges with engagement and whether interventions have an impact, complicating patient and programme-level decision-making. This study identified and characterized measures of engagement to support more consistent and comprehensive evaluation.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping study to systematically categorize measures the health system could use to evaluate engagement with HIV care for those on antiretroviral treatment. Key terms were used to search literature databases (Embase, PsychINFO, Ovid Global-Health, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane and the World Health Organization Index Medicus), Google Scholar and stakeholder-identified manuscripts, ultimately including English evidence published from sub-Saharan Africa from 2014 to 2021. Measures were extracted, organized, then reviewed with key stakeholders.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We screened 14,885 titles/abstracts, included 118 full-texts and identified 110 measures of engagement, categorized into three engagement dimensions ("retention," "adherence" and "active self-management"), a combination category ("multi-dimensional engagement") and "treatment outcomes" category (e.g. viral load as an end-result reflecting that engagement occurred). Retention reflected status in care, continuity of attendance and visit timing. Adherence was assessed by a variety of measures categorized into primary (prescription not filled) and secondary measures (medication not taken as directed). Active self-management reflected involvement in care and self-management. Three overarching use cases were identified: research to make recommendations, routine monitoring for quality improvement and strategic decision-making and assessment of individual patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Heterogeneity in conceptualizing engagement with HIV care is reflected by the broad range of measures identified and the lack of consensus on "gold-standard" indicators. This review organized metrics into five categories based on the dimensions of engagement; further work could identify a standardized, minimum set of measures useful for comprehensive evaluation of engagement for different use cases. In the interim, measurement of engagement could be advanced through the assessment of multiple categories for a more thorough evaluation, conducting sensitivity analyses with commonly used measures for more comparable outputs and using longitudinal measures to evaluate engagement patterns. This could improve research, programme evaluation and nuanced assessment of individual patient engagement in HIV care.

ImpACT+, a coping intervention to improve clinical outcomes for women living with HIV and sexual trauma in South Africa: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Addressing sexual trauma in the context of HIV care is essential to improve clinical outcomes and mental health among women in South Africa. Women living with HIV (WLH) report disproportionately high levels of sexual trauma and have higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) may be difficult for traumatized women, as sexual trauma compounds the stress associated with managing HIV and is often comorbid with other mental health disorders, further compromising care engagement and adherence. ART initiation represents a unique window of opportunity for intervention to enhance motivation, increase care engagement, and address the negative effects of trauma on avoidant coping behaviors. Mental health interventions delivered by non-specialists in low- and middle-income countries have potential to treat depression, trauma, and effects of intimate partner violence among WLH. This study will examine the effectiveness of Improving AIDS Care after Trauma (ImpACT +), a task-shared, trauma-focused coping intervention, to promote viral suppression among WLH initiating ART in a South African clinic setting.

Methods

This study will be conducted in Khayelitsha, a peri-urban settlement situated near Cape Town, South Africa. Using a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation design, we will randomize 350 WLH initiating ART to the ImpACT + experimental condition or the control condition (three weekly sessions of adapted problem-solving therapy) to examine the effectiveness of ImpACT + on viral suppression, ART adherence, and the degree to which mental health outcomes mediate intervention effects. ImpACT + participants will receive six once-a-week coping intervention sessions and six monthly maintenance sessions over the follow-up period. We will conduct mental health and bio-behavioral assessments at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months, with care engagement data extracted from medical records. We will explore scalability using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Discussion

This trial is expected to yield important new information on psychologically informed intervention models that benefit the mental health and clinical outcomes of WLH with histories of sexual trauma. The proposed ImpACT + intervention, with its focus on building coping skills to address traumatic stress and engagement in HIV care and treatment, could have widespread impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04793217. Retrospectively registered on 11 March 2021.

'If the Partner Finds Out, then there's Trouble': Provider Perspectives on Safety Planning and Partner Interference When Offering HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Pre-exposure prophylaxis is an effective women-controlled HIV prevention strategy but women experiencing intimate partner violencefear partners' interference and subsequent violence could limit its utility. This study explores provider perceptions of safety planning strategies to prevent escalating violence, mitigate partner interference, and promote daily oral PrEP adherence. We conducted interviews (N = 36) with healthcare providers (n = 18) and IPV service providers (n = 18) in Baltimore and New Haven. Using the Contextualized Assessment for Strategic Safety Planning model we organized data into two categories: the appraisal process and strategic safety planning. Themes revealed during the appraisal process, providers conduct routine IPV screening, facilitate HIV risk perception, and offer PrEP. Strategic safety planning utilizes concealment tactics, informal sources of support, role playing and cover stories. Future interventions to enhance PrEP services among women exposed to IPV should implement safety planning strategies, integrate PrEP care with IPV services, and employ novel PrEP modalities to maximize effectiveness.

Trauma-Informed HIV Care Interventions: Towards a Holistic Approach

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The prevalence of trauma is higher among people living with HIV compared to the general population and people living without HIV. Trauma may be a major barrier in attaining HIV treatment outcomes, such as linkage to HIV care, engagement in HIV care, adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and viral suppression. The purpose of this review was to highlight trauma-informed interventions that are geared towards improving treatment outcomes among people living with HIV.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies suggest that a trauma-informed approach to developing interventions may help to improve treatment outcomes, such as engagement in care and adherence to ART. However, studies have also shown that depending on the operationalization of usual care, a trauma-informed approach may result in similar outcomes. Very few studies have examined the impact of trauma-informed interventions on HIV care and treatment outcomes. Additional research is needed on the acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of trauma-informed interventions among affected populations such as older adults, and racial/ethnic and sexual minorities living with HIV.

Interventions in sexual and reproductive health services addressing violence against women in low-income and middle-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To synthesise evidence on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and barriers to responding to violence against women (VAW) in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in low/middle-income countries (LMICs).

DESIGN

Mixed-methods systematic review.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, Psycinfo, Cochrane, Cinahl, IMEMR, Web of Science, Popline, Lilacs, WHO RHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, Google, Google Scholar, websites of key organisations through December 2019.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies of any design that evaluated VAW interventions in SRH services in LMICs.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Concurrent narrative quantitative and thematic qualitative syntheses, integration through line of argument and mapping onto a logic model. Two reviewers extracted data and appraised quality.

RESULTS

26 studies of varied interventions using heterogeneous outcomes. Of ten interventions that strengthened health systems capacity to respond to VAW during routine SRH consultation, three reported no harm and reduction in some types of violence. Of nine interventions that strengthened health systems and communities' capacity to respond to VAW, three reported conflicting effects on re-exposure to some types of VAW and mixed effect on SRH. The interventions increased identification of VAW but had no effect on the provision (75%-100%) and uptake (0.6%-53%) of referrals to VAW services. Of seven psychosocial interventions in addition to SRH consultation that strengthened women's readiness to address VAW, four reduced re-exposure to some types of VAW and improved health. Factors that disrupted the pathway to better outcomes included accepting attitudes towards VAW, fear of consequences and limited readiness of the society, health systems and individuals. No study evaluated cost-effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Some VAW interventions in SRH services reduced re-exposure to some types of VAW and improved some health outcomes in single studies. Future interventions should strengthen capacity to address VAW across health systems, communities and individual women. First-line support should be better tailored to women's needs and expectations.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019137167.

Predicting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Caseness Using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 Among Patients Receiving Care for HIV

This study assessed the ability of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5) to distinguish between caseness and noncaseness for PTSD among South Africans receiving care for HIV. The PCL-5 and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-Research Version (SCID-RV) module for PTSD were administered to 688 patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at two HIV care clinics in the greater Cape Town (South Africa) area. In total, nearly half of the sample (n = 324, 47.1%) reported experiencing an index traumatic event, and 101 participants (14.74%, 95% CI [12.17%, 17.62%]) met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD as measured using the SCID-RV. An ROC curve analysis suggested that a PCL-5 cutoff score of 32 yielded optimal sensitivity (0.88) and specificity (0.88), indicating that the measure was successful in determining caseness for PTSD 88% of the time and noncaseness 88% of the time. The AUC was 94.3%, 95% CI [92.6% to 96.1%], indicating high accuracy. The positive predictive value and negative predictive values were 56.3% and 97.7%, respectively, which suggests that the PCL-5 is an effective screening instrument to determine the presence of PTSD among South African ART users. Undetected and, thus, untreated PTSD may reduce quality of life, impede optimal adherence to ART, and increase the likelihood of risk behaviors among individuals living with HIV, contributing to further infections. The PCL-5 may be used for detection, referral, and treatment of PTSD as a way to enhance its management among individuals receiving HIV care.

Mental health characteristics and their associations with childhood trauma among subgroups of people living with HIV in China

BACKGROUND

People living with HIV (PLWH) carry a high risk for mental health problems, which has been extensively reported in the literature. However, an understanding of mental health characteristics in different subgroups of PLWH is still limited. In the present study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to explore mental health characteristics and their associations with childhood trauma in two major subgroups of PLWH in China.

METHODS

A total of 533 PLWH (213 prisoners in the prison system, and 320 outpatients) were assessed using the 8-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).

RESULTS

From the total sample, 22.0% PLWH frequently experienced psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), 21.8% had clinically significant anxiety syndrome, 34.0% had clinically significant depressive syndrome, and 63.6% experienced at least one type of traumatic exposure during their childhood, with physical neglect being the most common. Compared to outpatients with HIV, prisoners living with HIV reported more severe mental health problems and a higher frequency of childhood trauma, with childhood trauma in turn predicting higher risk for mental health problems. Similarly, among outpatients living with HIV, both childhood emotional and sexual abuse had predictive effects on all the three mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that PLWH have higher risk of anxiety, depression and PLEs, and childhood trauma could serve as predicting factors for such risks. In addition, childhood trauma may play distinct roles in predicting the risk for the mental health problems, depending on different subgroup of PLWH.

The Latest Treatment Interventions Improving Mental Health Outcomes for Women, Following Gender-Based Violence in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries: A Mini Review

Gender-based violence (GBV), specifically violence against women, is a worldwide pandemic. Prevalence is further escalated in low-and-middle-income countries and in humanitarian crises. Survivors are left with a combination of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. These mental health disorders lead to further morbidity and mortality. Despite its high prevalence and co-morbidities, gender disparities and mental health stigma globally lead to few interventions developed for this population. The aim of this review is to highlight the mental health interventions developed in the past 5 years, for women following GBV in low-and-middle-income countries. It aims to discuss their efficacy and controversies when implemented into healthcare systems, understand the gaps that remain in the field and suggest future research developments. A thorough literature search revealed 16 new interventions available for improving mental health outcomes for women following GBV in low-and-middle-income countries. Following an in-depth evaluation of the papers, one intervention was successful in effectively implementing treatment into healthcare systems-"PM+." However, it proved only to be effective in the short term. Further research must be done for improving long-term mental health outcomes. Results demonstrated poor follow-up for women engaging in group therapy. The review also highlights community workers were used in service delivery to reduce barriers accessing care. No interventions proved effective in humanitarian crises, despite GBV escalated in these settings. There are very few interventions available in comparison to the prevalence of this global health issue. Therefore, this review encourages further research and improvements in mental healthcare interventions following GBV.

In search of 'community': a critical review of community mental health services for women in African settings

Community is deemed a central resource for the improvement of health, across disciplines, contexts and conditions. However, what is meant by this term is rarely critically explored. In Global Mental Health, considerable efforts in recent years have been directed towards scaling up 'community' approaches, with variable success, creating the need to better understand approaches to its use. Our study contributes to this need, through a critical review of studies engaging with the term 'community' in relation to women's mental health services in African settings. Our review explored 30 peer-reviewed articles from the past 15 years, which were systematically evaluated for quality of evidence. Studies were then analysed using a blend of conventional and directed content analysis to unpack perspectives on the term's use in intervention and phenomenological studies. We identified four broad categories of community: (1) place (shared geographical location or institutional affiliation), (2) practice (belongingness to a shared activity or profession), (3) symbols (meanings and experiences associated with shared community life) and (4) identity (diagnostic identity around a mental health condition). Analysis identified community of place as the most common primary focus of interest across the sample, with 80% of papers referencing this dimension. We noted that in studies where communities of practice were the focus, this was in relation to leveraging local knowledge to inform or support service delivery of intervention programmes, often designed by outsiders. Implications for future policy and mental health services research are discussed.

Trauma informed interventions: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Health inequities remain a public health concern. Chronic adversity such as discrimination or racism as trauma may perpetuate health inequities in marginalized populations. There is a growing body of the literature on trauma informed and culturally competent care as essential elements of promoting health equity, yet no prior review has systematically addressed trauma informed interventions. The purpose of this study was to appraise the types, setting, scope, and delivery of trauma informed interventions and associated outcomes.

METHODS

We performed database searches- PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, SCOPUS and PsycINFO-to identify quantitative studies published in English before June 2019. Thirty-two unique studies with one companion article met the eligibility criteria.

RESULTS

More than half of the 32 studies were randomized controlled trials (n = 19). Thirteen studies were conducted in the United States. Child abuse, domestic violence, or sexual assault were the most common types of trauma addressed (n = 16). While the interventions were largely focused on reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n = 23), depression (n = 16), or anxiety (n = 10), trauma informed interventions were mostly delivered in an outpatient setting (n = 20) by medical professionals (n = 21). Two most frequently used interventions were eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (n = 6) and cognitive behavioral therapy (n = 5). Intervention fidelity was addressed in 16 studies. Trauma informed interventions significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in 11 of 23 studies. Fifteen studies found improvements in three main psychological outcomes including PTSD symptoms (11 of 23), depression (9 of 16), and anxiety (5 of 10). Cognitive behavioral therapy consistently improved a wide range of outcomes including depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal problems, and risky behaviors (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

There is inconsistent evidence to support trauma informed interventions as an effective approach for psychological outcomes. Future trauma informed intervention should be expanded in scope to address a wide range of trauma types such as racism and discrimination. Additionally, a wider range of trauma outcomes should be studied.

Assessing longitudinal patterns of depressive symptoms and the influence of symptom trajectories on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence among adolescent girls in the HPTN 082 randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) eligible for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) experience high levels of depressive symptoms. Depression can reduce PrEP adherence among adults, although analyses have considered depression as a time-varying exposure rather than modelling distinct patterns of symptoms. The association between depressive symptoms and PrEP adherence has not been explored for AGYW. To address these gaps, we sought to understand depressive symptom trajectories among African AGYW initiating PrEP and the impact of time-varying depressive symptoms and symptom trajectories on PrEP adherence.

METHODS

HPTN 082 was an open-label PrEP study among AGYW (ages 16 to 24) in Zimbabwe and South Africa from 2016 to 2018. Depressive symptoms were measured at enrolment and Weeks 13, 26 and 52, using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies scale; a score ≥10 is indicative of elevated depressive symptoms. PrEP adherence was defined as any detectable tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) levels. Group-based trajectory modelling was used to model longitudinal patterns of depressive symptoms. We assessed psychosocial and behavioural predictors of depressive symptom trajectory membership (e.g. PrEP stigma, intimate partner violence [IPV], sexual behaviour). We modelled associations between (1) group trajectory membership and PrEP adherence at Week 52 and (2) time-varying depressive symptoms and PrEP adherence through follow-up.

RESULTS

At enrolment, 179 (41.9%) participants had elevated depressive symptoms. Group-based trajectory models revealed persistent elevated depressive symptoms in 48.5%, declining symptoms in 9.4% and no consistent or mild depressive symptoms in 43.3%. AGYW who engaged in transactional sex, reported IPV, or had traumatic stress symptoms were more likely to be assigned to the persistent elevated symptom group compared with the consistent no/mild symptom group (Wald test p-value all <0.01). Participants assigned to the persistent elevated depressive symptom trajectory had a significantly lower risk of detectable TFV-DP at Week 52 than those in the no/mild symptom trajectory (adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.80 to 0.98). Elevated depressive symptoms were significantly inversely associated with PrEP use throughout follow-up (adjusted relative risk = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.53 to 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent depressive symptoms were common among African AGYW seeking PrEP. Integration of depressive symptom screening and treatment into PrEP programmes may improve PrEP effectiveness among African women.

"I just keep quiet about it and act as if everything is alright" - The cascade from trauma to disengagement among adolescents living with HIV in western Kenya

INTRODUCTION

There are approximately 1.7 million adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV, ages 10 to 19) globally, including 110,000 in Kenya. While ALHIV experience poor retention in care, limited data exist on factors underlying disengagement. We investigated the burden of trauma among disengaged ALHIV in western Kenya, and its potential role in HIV care disengagement.

METHODS

We performed in-depth qualitative interviews with ALHIV who had disengaged from care at two sites, their caregivers and healthcare workers (HCW) at 10 sites, from 2018 to 2020. Disengagement was defined as not attending clinic ≥60 days past a missed scheduled visit. ALHIV and their caregivers were traced through phone calls and home visits. Interviews ascertained barriers and facilitators to adolescent retention in HIV care. Dedicated questions elicited narratives surrounding traumatic experiences, and the ways in which these did or did not impact retention in care. Through thematic analysis, a conceptual model emerged for a cascade from adolescent experience of trauma to disengagement from HIV care.

RESULTS

Interviews were conducted with 42 disengaged ALHIV, 34 caregivers and 28 HCW. ALHIV experienced a high burden of trauma from a range of stressors, including experiences at HIV disclosure or diagnosis, the loss of parents, enacted stigma and physical or sexual violence. A confluence of factors - trauma, stigma and isolation, and lack of social support - led to hopelessness and depression. These factors compounded each other, and resulted in complex mental health burdens, poor antiretroviral adherence and care disengagement. HCW approaches aligned with the factors in this model, suggesting that these areas represent targets for intervention and provision of trauma-informed care.

CONCLUSIONS

Trauma is a major factor underlying disengagement from HIV care among Kenyan adolescents. We describe a cascade of factors representing areas for intervention to support mental health and retention in HIV care. These include not only the provision of mental healthcare, but also preventing or addressing violence, trauma and stigma, and reinforcing social and familial support surrounding vulnerable adolescents. In this conceptualization, supporting retention in HIV care requires a trauma-informed approach, both in the individualized care of ALHIV and in the development of strategies and policies to support adolescent health outcomes.

A Cascade of Interventions to Promote Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in African Countries

Purpose of Review

We reviewed interventions to improve uptake and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in African countries in the Treat All era.

Recent Findings

ART initiation can be improved by facilitated rapid receipt of first prescription, including community-based linkage and point-of-care strategies, integration of HIV care into antenatal care and peer support for adolescents. For people living with HIV (PLHIV) on ART, scheduled SMS reminders, ongoing intensive counselling for those with viral non-suppression and economic incentives for the most deprived show promise. Adherence clubs should be promoted, being no less effective than facility-based care for stable patients. Tracing those lost to follow-up should be targeted to those who can be seen face-to-face by a peer worker.

Summary

Investment is needed to promote linkage to initiating ART and for differentiated approaches to counselling for youth and for those with identified suboptimal adherence. More evidence from within Africa is needed on cost-effective strategies to identify and support PLHIV at an increased risk of non-adherence across the treatment cascade.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s11904-020-00511-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

"She Just Told Me Not To Cry": A Qualitative Study of Experiences of HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Tanzania

HIV testing and counseling (HTC) in antenatal care is extremely effective at identifying women living with HIV and linking them to HIV care. However, retention is suboptimal in this population. We completed qualitative interviews with 24 pregnant women living with HIV in Tanzania to explore perceptions of HTC. Participants described intense shock and distress upon testing positive, including concerns about HIV stigma and disclosure; however, these concerns were rarely discussed in HTC. Nurses were generally kind, but relied on educational content and brief reassurances, leaving some participants feeling unsupported and unprepared to start HIV treatment. Several participants described gaps in HIV knowledge, including the purpose of antiretroviral therapy and the importance of medication adherence. Targeted nurse training related to HIV disclosure, stigma, and counseling skills may help nurses to more effectively communicate the importance of care engagement to prevent HIV transmission and support the long-term health of mother and child.

Adapting a Behavioral Intervention for Alcohol Use and HIV Medication Adherence for Lay Counselor Delivery in Cape Town, South Africa: A Case Series

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and problematic alcohol use are two ongoing and interconnected epidemics in South Africa, with untreated problematic alcohol use associated with poorer HIV treatment outcomes and disease progression. A lack of trained mental health providers is a primary barrier to increasing access to evidence-based treatment in this setting. To address this gap, we integrated evidence-based intervention components for problematic alcohol use and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, adapted for lay provider delivery in an HIV primary care setting in Cape Town, South Africa. The intervention, locally termed "Khanya" in isiXhosa, which means glow, direction, or light, comprises Life Steps adherence counseling, motivational interviewing, behavioral activation, and relapse prevention, including mindfulness-based relapse prevention components. In this case series, we present a detailed description of the intervention and provide three clinical cases of individuals who received the Khanya intervention to showcase necessary clinical adaptations and the supervision needed for optimal treatment delivery, flexibility in intervention delivery, and overall successes and challenges. We present descriptive data on alcohol use and ART adherence outcomes for the cases to supplement the narrative discussion. Successes of intervention delivery included participant uptake of mindfulness skills, reductions in alcohol use despite varying levels of motivation, and interventionist mastery over various clinical skills. Challenges included delivering the intervention within the allotted time and the strong influence of substance-using social networks. Overall, a pragmatic approach to intervention delivery was necessary, as was ongoing support for the interventionist to promote fidelity to both treatment components and therapeutic skills.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03529409. Trial registered on May 18, 2018.

Intimate Partner Violence: A Bibliometric Review of Literature

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide public health problem. Here, a bibliometric analysis is performed to evaluate the publications in the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) field from 2000 to 2019 based on the Science Citation Index (SCI) Expanded and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) databases. This work presents a detailed overview of IPV from aspects of types of articles, citations, h-indices, languages, years, journals, institutions, countries, and author keywords. The results show that the USA takes the leading position in this research field, followed by Canada and the U.K. The University of North Carolina has the most publications and Harvard University has the first place in terms of h-index. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine leads the list of average citations per paper. The Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Journal of Family Violence and Violence Against Women are the top three most productive journals in this field, and Psychology is the most frequently used subject category. Keywords analysis indicates that, in recent years, most research focuses on the research fields of "child abuse", "pregnancy", "HIV", "dating violence", "gender-based violence" and "adolescents".

Young South African Women on Antiretroviral Therapy Perceptions of a Psychological Counselling Program to Reduce Heavy Drinking and Depression

Young women in South Africa remain most at risk for HIV infection. Several factors contribute to the high incidence rate in this population, including hazardous drinking and depression. Addressing common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression and alcohol use disorders is key to effective HIV treatment. We explored the experiences and perceptions of young South African women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) of a lay health worker (LHW)-delivered psychosocial intervention based on motivational interviewing (MI) and problem-solving therapy (PST) to reduce heavy drinking and depression. We conducted 27 in-depth interviews with young women (aged 18-35) recruited from 16 primary care clinics in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Discussion topics included young women's life experiences leading to their enrollment in the program, their perceptions of the counselling sessions and the quality of their interaction with the counsellor. Qualitative data were analyzed using a framework approach. The findings highlighted the impact adverse life experiences and stressful life circumstances have on young women's use of alcohol and symptoms of depression and the effect this has on ART adherence. The findings suggest that women found the intervention components that helped them develop strategies for coping with their past experiences, managing current life stressors, and regulating negative thoughts and emotions most beneficial. Taken together, these findings confirm the acceptability of LHW-delivered MI-PST counselling for this population, but suggest that the relevance of the MI-PST intervention for this highly vulnerable population could be further enhanced by including a focus on psychological trauma.

"I cannot change what happened to me, but I can learn to change how I feel": A case study from ImpACT, an intervention for women with a history of sexual trauma who are living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa

Sexual trauma is highly prevalent among women living with HIV in South Africa, and there is a great need for psychotherapeutic interventions to address these concerns. Improving AIDS Care After Trauma (ImpACT) is a manualized intervention, based on stress and coping theories, that builds skills for coping with sexual trauma and HIV to promote long-term HIV care engagement. Using qualitative case study methodology, we report the case of Xoliswa, a 34-year-old woman with a complex history of sexual trauma and alcohol use who was diagnosed with HIV 1 year prior to enrollment in ImpACT. The interventionist, a lay counselor, worked with Xoliswa in a primary care clinic to address her concerns by exploring personal values, managing barriers to HIV care, and teaching active coping. Xoliswa's drinking reduced, symptoms of trauma and depression improved, and she maintained strong HIV care engagement. The interventionist experienced stress and emotional challenges in delivering ImpACT to Xoliswa and other highly traumatized women, and the interventionist's skill development and support received through training and supervision are briefly discussed. The case demonstrates the feasibility of ImpACT in a resource-limited setting and highlights themes and barriers in therapy, which can inform future interventions for women living with HIV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Women's perspectives on ImpACT: a coping intervention to address sexual trauma and improve HIV care engagement in Cape Town, South Africa

HIV-infected women who have experienced sexual violence face unique challenges in their HIV care engagement and adherence to antiretroviral medications (ARVs). Improving AIDS Care after Trauma (ImpACT) is a brief counseling intervention aimed at reducing the negative impact of sexual trauma and HIV, building coping skills, and improving long-term HIV care engagement. We conducted a randomized controlled pilot trial of ImpACT with 64 women initiating ARVs in Cape Town, South Africa, with results suggesting the intervention can reduce PTSD symptoms and increase motivation to adhere to ARVs. For the current study, we abstracted data from ImpACT worksheets completed by 31 participants during intervention sessions, and qualitative responses from post-intervention surveys, to examine mechanisms, facilitators, and barriers to change in the intervention. Data included participant descriptions of the values informing their care, barriers to participation, and perceived benefits of the intervention related to coping with trauma and improving care engagement. During the first session, women reported feelings of shame, sadness, and anger that led to social isolation, mistrust, and damaged relationships. Barriers to participation included work and school demands, issues with transportation, finances, and discomfort in talking about HIV and trauma, particularly in group sessions. Despite these challenges, several women stated they developed more positive thinking, felt more confident, and improved their interpersonal relationships. Participants also reported substantial positive impact on symptoms of sexual trauma and motivation to continue with long-term HIV care, and clearer understanding of barriers and facilitators to ARV adherence. ImpACT is a promising intervention model for building adaptive coping skills and adherence to HIV treatment, informed by personal values, among women with a history of trauma in this high-risk setting. The data also offer insights into strategies to strengthen the intervention, overcome barriers to participation, encourage the practical application of skills, and promote long-term HIV care engagement.

Pathways to Health: an Examination of HIV-Related Stigma, Life Stressors, Depression, and Substance Use

BACKGROUND

Despite antiretroviral treatment (ART) being an efficacious treatment for HIV, essentially making it a chronic non-terminal illness, two related and frequent concerns for many people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) continue to be HIV-related stigma and life stress. These two variables are frequently associated with depression, substance use, and poorer functional health. Studies to date have not fully examined the degree to which these constructs may be associated within one model, which could reveal a more nuanced understanding of how HIV-related stigma and life stress affect functional health in PLWHA.

METHODS

The current study employed hybrid structural equation modeling to examine the interconnectedness and potential indirect relationships of HIV-related stigma and life stress to worse health through substance use and depression, controlling for ART adherence and age. Participants were 240 HIV-infected individuals who completed a biopsychosocial assessment battery upon screening for an RCT on treating depression in those infected with HIV.

RESULTS

Both HIV-related stigma and stressful life events were directly related to depression, and depression was directly related to health. There were significant indirect effects from stigma and stress to health via depression. There were no significant effects involving substance use.

CONCLUSION

It is important to continue to develop ways to address stigma, stressful life events, and their effects on distress in those living with HIV. Expanding our knowledge of disease progression risk factors beyond ART adherence is important to be able to design adjuvant interventions, particularly because treatment means that people living with HIV have markedly improved life expectancy and that successful treatment means that HIV is not transmittable to others.

Condomless Sex and Psychiatric Comorbidity in the Context of Constrained Survival Choices: A Longitudinal Study Among Homeless and Unstably Housed Women

We sought to identify the prevalence and independent correlates of condomless sex within a cohort of community-recruited homeless and unstably housed cisgender adult women who were followed biannually for 3 years (N = 143 HIV+ , N = 139 HIV-). Nearly half (44%) of participants reported condomless sex in the 6 months before baseline, which increased to 65% throughout the study period. After adjusting for having a primary partner, longitudinal odds of condomless sex among women with HIV were significantly higher among those reporting < daily use of alcohol or cannabis (AOR = 2.09, p =.002, and 1.88, p =.005, respectively) and PTSD (AOR = 1.66, p =.034). Among women without HIV, adjusted longitudinal odds of condomless sex were significantly higher for those reporting < daily methamphetamine use (AOR = 2.02, p =.012), panic attack (AOR = 1.74, p =.029), and homelessness (AOR = 1.67, p = .006). Associations were slightly attenuated when adjusting for sex exchange. Targeted HIV/STI programs for unstably housed women should address anxiety and trauma disorders, infrequent substance use, and housing challenges.

A trauma-informed substance use and sexual risk reduction intervention for young South African women: a mixed-methods feasibility study

OBJECTIVES

Sexual and physical trauma and substance use are intersecting risks for HIV among young women. This study assesses the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a novel trauma-informed substance use and sexual risk reduction intervention for young South African women.

DESIGN

A single arm feasibility test and qualitative interviews of participants.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty women, between 18 and 25 years of age, who reported trauma exposure, substance use and recent condom-less sex were recruited. Twenty participants were randomly selected for qualitative interviews.

INTERVENTION

A six-session group-based intervention.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We examined the proportion of women who provided consent, completed counselling and were retained in the study. Qualitative interviews explored intervention acceptability. Preliminary effects of the intervention on substance use, mental health (depression, psychological distress and trauma symptoms) and sexual risk outcomes (STI symptoms, number of partners and condomless sex) were explored.

RESULTS

Of the 66 eligible women, 91% were enrolled. Intervention completion rates were low; 35% attended all sessions. On average, participants attended four sessions (M=3.8, SD=1.3). A 93% follow-up rate was achieved at the 3-month endpoint. In this single group design, reductions in the proportion of participants who tested positive for methamphetamine, cannabis and methaqualone were observed at the 3-month endpoint. Symptoms of depression, psychological distress and trauma; number of STI symptoms; and number of sexual partners also decreased. Outcomes were similar for participants who completed up to four and those who completed five or more sessions. Participants thought the intervention was highly beneficial and proposed modifications to enhance acceptability.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel intervention seems acceptable and holds potential benefits for trauma-exposed women who use substances. Truncating the intervention may enhance the likelihood of its implementation. The efficacy of the intervention for improving substance use, sexual risk and mental health outcomes requires testing in a controlled design.