Provider perceptions of stigma and discrimination experienced by adolescents and young adults with pHiV while accessing sexual and reproductive health care

The CombinADO study to assess the impact of a combination intervention strategy on viral suppression, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and retention in HIV care among adolescents and young people living with HIV: protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Background

Adolescents and youth living with HIV (AYAHIV) have worse HIV outcomes than other age groups, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). AYAHIV in SSA face formidable health system, interpersonal- and individual-level barriers to retention in HIV care, uptake of ART, and achievement of viral suppression (VS), underscoring an urgent need for multi-component interventions to address these challenges. This cluster-randomized control trial (cRCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness and monitor implementation of a community-informed multi-component intervention (“CombinADO strategy”) addressing individual-, facility-, and community-level factors to improve health outcomes for AYAHIV.

Methods

This trial will be conducted in 12 clinics in Nampula Province, Northern Mozambique. All clinics will implement an optimized standard of care (control) including (1) billboards/posters and radio shows, (2) healthcare worker (HCW) training, (3) one-stop adolescent and youth-friendly services, (4) information/motivation walls, (5) pill containers, and (6) tools to be used by HCW during clinical visits. The CombinADO strategy (intervention) will be superadded to control conditions at 6 randomly selected clinics. It will include five additional components: (1) peer support, (2) informational/motivational video, (3) support groups for AYAHIV caregivers, (4) AYAHIV support groups, and (5) mental health screening and linkage to adolescent-focused mental health support. The study conditions will be in place for 12 months; all AYAHIV (ages 10–24 years, on ART) seeking care in the participating sites will be exposed to either the control or intervention condition based on the clinic they attend. The primary outcome is VS (viral load < 50 copies/mL) at 12 months among AYAHIV attending participating clinics. Secondary outcomes include ART adherence (self-reported and TDF levels) and retention in care (engagement in the preceding 90 days). Uptake, feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of the CombinADO strategy during implementation will be measured. Trial outcomes will be assessed in AYAHIV, caregivers, healthcare workers, and key informants. Statistical analyses will be conducted and reported in line with CONSORT guidelines for cRCTs.

Discussion

The CombinADO study will provide evidence on effectiveness and inform implementation of a novel community-informed multi-component intervention to improve retention, adherence, and VS among AYAHIV. If found effective, results will strengthen the rationale for scale up in SSA.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04930367. Registered on 18 June 2021

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-021-05943-w.

Adherence Connection for Counseling, Education, and Support: Research Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Study

Background

The highest rates of new HIV infections are observed in African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos (ethnic minority) adolescents and young adults (youth). HIV-infected ethnic minority youth are less likely to initiate and maintain adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and medical care, as compared with their adult counterparts.

Objective

The objective of this research protocol was to describe our proposed methods for testing a peer-led mobile health cognitive behavioral intervention, delivered via remote videoconferencing and smartphones with HIV-infected ethnic minority youth, Adherence Connection for Counseling, Education, and Support (ACCESS). Our secondary aim was to obtain initial estimates of the biobehavioral impact of ACCESS on HIV virologic outcomes and self-reported ART adherence, beliefs and knowledge about ART treatment, adherence self-efficacy, and health care utilization (retention in care).

Methods

An exploratory, sequential mixed-methods study design will be used with conceptual determinants of adherence behavior informed by the information-motivation-behavioral skills model. HIV-infected ethnic minority youth aged 16 to 29 years with a detectable HIV serum viral load of more than 200 copies/ml (N=25) will be recruited. Qualitative pretesting will be conducted, including semistructured, in-depth, individual interviews with a convenience sample meeting the study inclusion criteria. Preliminary analysis of qualitative data will be used to inform and tailor the ACCESS intervention. Testing and implementation will include a one-group pre-posttest pilot, delivered by a trained successful peer health coach who lives with HIV and is well-engaged in HIV care and taking ART. A total of 5 peer-led remote videoconferencing sessions will be delivered using study-funded smartphones and targeting adherence information (HIV knowledge), motivation (beliefs and perceptions), and behavioral skills (self-efficacy). Participant satisfaction will be assessed with poststudy focus groups and quantitative survey methodology. Bivariate analyses will be computed to compare pre- and postintervention changes in HIV biomarkers, self-reported ART adherence, beliefs and knowledge about ART, adherence self-efficacy, and retention in care.

Results

As of December 2018, we are in the data analysis phase of this pilot and anticipate completion with dissemination of final study findings by spring/summer 2019. The major outcomes will include intervention feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary evidence of impact on serum HIV RNA quantitative viral load (primary adherence outcome variable). Self-reported ART adherence and retention in care will be assessed as secondary outcomes. Findings from the qualitative pretesting will contribute to an improved understanding of adherence behavior.

Conclusions

Should the ACCESS intervention prove feasible and acceptable, this research protocol will contribute to a shift in existent HIV research paradigms by offering a blueprint for technology-enabled peer-led interventions and models.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/12543

Sexual and reproductive health in HIV-positive adolescents

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aims to summarize data in the last 18 months on the sexual and reproductive health of perinatally and horizontally infected adolescents and young people living with HIV (age 13-25 years) and to highlight some key issues faced by this group of adolescents as they reach puberty and sexual debut.

RECENT FINDINGS

Adolescents and young people living with HIV are a growing cohort worldwide and a significant proportion engage in high-risk sexual activity, pose risk of onward HIV transmission, yet have poor access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and lack the knowledge and support to advocate for their needs.

SUMMARY

Providing adolescents living with HIV with access to SRH services is essential. Integrated HIV and SRH services and peer support models work well. HIV healthcare providers should educate all young people around disclosure, treatment as prevention and adherence, options for preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis and contraception, and support them to advocate for their own sexual health.

Factors that Influence Sexual and Reproductive Health Information Offered to Adolescents with Perinatally Acquired HIV: An Ecological Analysis of Provider Perspectives

The goal of our project was to examine health and social service provider views of factors that influence the nature and timing of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information shared with adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV). Health care (n = 6) and social service (n = 7) providers (11.6 mean years caring for adolescents with PHIV) completed audio-recorded interviews that were transcribed, and coded for emerging themes. Analyses revealed multiple levels of influence best understood in the context of the ecological model. Adolescent factors included cognitive development, comfort level with sexuality talk, and disclosure status. Guardian/parent hesitancy, values, and concerns regarding disclosure comprised the microsystem. Exosystem-level factors included disclosure as a prerequisite to SRH education, provider comfort, and relationship with the adolescent. Finally, broader structural aspects of the macrosystem included mandatory disclosure laws and quality of school-based SRH education. Across systems, findings underscored the central importance of disclosure in the provision of SRH information.