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Abdelkhalek F, Joseph P, DeRose L, Olamijuwon E, Dladla P, Ngubane T, Hosegood V, van Rooyen H, van Heerden A, McGrath N. Two-way associations between relationship quality and uptake of couples health screening including HIV testing and counselling together: quantitative analysis of a couples cohort in rural South Africa. AIDS Care 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38381809 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2024.2308741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
In the context of a couples cohort established to evaluate an optimised couples-focused behavioural intervention in rural South Africa, we examined: (1) Is couples' relationship quality (RQ) associated with couples HIV testing and counselling (CHTC) uptake? (2) Does CHTC uptake or the intervention components uptake improve subsequent RQ? Enrolled couples, (n = 218), previously naïve to couples HIV testing, were invited to two group sessions and offered four couples counselling sessions (CS1-CS4), as part of the intervention and administered a questionnaire individually at baseline, four weeks, and four months, which included item-scales to measure RQ: satisfaction, intimacy, dyadic trust, conflict, and mutual constructive communication. Logistic models indicated that no baseline RQ measures were significantly associated with CHTC uptake. Linear regression models showed that CHTC uptake before four weeks assessment significantly improved couples' satisfaction and trust at four weeks, and intimacy at four months. Attending at least one CS was associated with increased satisfaction, intimacy, and decreased conflict within couples at four weeks; the improvement in intimacy was sustained at four months. Consistent with the theoretical interdependence model, our findings suggest that CHTC and CS seemed to strengthen aspects of relationship quality, possibly leading to further collaboration in managing lifestyle changes and treatment adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Abdelkhalek
- CHERISH programme, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Faculty of Commerce, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Phillip Joseph
- Human Sciences Research Council, Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | | | - Emmanuel Olamijuwon
- CHERISH programme, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St. Andrews, UK
| | - Pumla Dladla
- Human Sciences Research Council, Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Thulani Ngubane
- Human Sciences Research Council, Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Victoria Hosegood
- Department of Social Statistics & Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Heidi van Rooyen
- Human Sciences Research Council, Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- SAMRC-WITS Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Alastair van Heerden
- Human Sciences Research Council, Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- SAMRC-WITS Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nuala McGrath
- CHERISH programme, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Department of Social Statistics & Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Smith KA, Van Pinxteren M, Mbokazi N, Majikela-Dlangamandla B, Delobelle P, Levitt N, McGrath N. Intervention development of 'Diabetes Together' using the person-based approach: a couples-focused intervention to support self-management of type 2 diabetes in South Africa. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e069982. [PMID: 37156595 PMCID: PMC10174033 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing concern in South Africa, where many find self-management challenging. Behaviour-change health interventions are enhanced by involving partners of patients. We aimed to develop a couples-focused intervention to improve self-management of T2D among adults in South Africa. DESIGN We used the person-based approach (PBA): synthesising evidence from existing interventions; background research; theory; and primary qualitative interviews with 10 couples to ascertain barriers and facilitators to self-management. This evidence was used to formulate guiding principles that directed the intervention design. We then prototyped the intervention workshop material, shared it with our public and patient involvement group and ran iterative co-discovery think-aloud sessions with nine couples. Feedback was rapidly analysed and changes formulated to improve the intervention, optimising its acceptability and maximising its potential efficacy. SETTING We recruited couples using public-sector health services in the area of Cape Town, South Africa, during 2020-2021. PARTICIPANTS The 38 participants were couples where one person had T2D. INTERVENTION We developed the 'Diabetes Together' intervention to support self-management of T2D among couples in South Africa, focussing on: improved communication and shared appraisal of T2D; identifying opportunities for better self-management; and support from partners. Diabetes Together combined eight informational and two skills-building sections over two workshops. RESULTS Our guiding principles included: providing equal information on T2D to partners; improving couples' communication; shared goal-setting; discussion of diabetes fears; discussing couples' roles in diabetes self-management; and supporting couples' autonomy to identify and prioritise diabetes self-management strategies.Participants viewing Diabetes Together valued the couples-focus of the intervention, especially communication. Feedback resulted in several improvements throughout the intervention, for example, addressing health concerns and tailoring to the setting. CONCLUSIONS Using the PBA, our intervention was developed and tailored to our target audience. Our next step is to pilot the workshops' feasibility and acceptability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Myrna Van Pinxteren
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nonzuzo Mbokazi
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Peter Delobelle
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Naomi Levitt
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nuala McGrath
- School of Primary Care, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Social Statistics and Demography, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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McGrath N, Ngcobo N, Feng Z, Joseph P, Dladla P, Ngubane T, Hosegood V, Morton K, Van Rooyen H, Van Heerden A. Protocol: evaluation of an optimised couples-focused intervention to increase testing for HIV in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the Igugu Lethu (‘Our treasure’) cohort study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1577. [PMID: 35986344 PMCID: PMC9389496 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13894-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Between 2012 and 2015, the Uthando Lwethu (UL) study demonstrated that a theory-based behavioural couples-focused intervention significantly increased participation in couples HIV testing and counselling (CHTC) among South African couples who had never previously tested for HIV together or mutually disclosed their HIV status, 42% compared to 12% of the control group at 9 months follow-up. Although effective, we were nonetheless concerned that in this high prevalence setting the majority (58%) of intervention couples chose not to test together. In response we optimised the UL intervention and in a new study, ‘Igugu Lethu’, we are evaluating the success of the optimised intervention in promoting CHTC. Methods One hundred eighty heterosexual couples, who have been in a relationship together for at least 6 months, are being recruited and offered the optimised couples-focused intervention. In the Igugu Lethu study, we have expanded the health screening visit offered to couples to include other health conditions in addition to CHTC. Enrolled couples who choose to schedule CHTC will also have the opportunity to undertake a random blood glucose test, blood pressure and BMI measurements, and self-sample for STI testing as part of their health screening. Individual surveys are administered at baseline, 4 weeks and 4 months follow-up. The proportion of couples who decide to test together for HIV will be compared to the results of the intervention arm in the UL study (historical controls). To facilitate this comparison, we will use the same recruitment and follow-up strategies in the same community as the previous UL study. Discussion By strengthening communication and functioning within the relationship, the Igugu Lethu study, like the previous UL study, aims to transform the motivation of individual partners from a focus on their own health to shared health as a couple. The Igugu Lethu study findings will answer whether the optimised couples-focused behavioural intervention and offering CHTC as part of a broader health screening for couples can increase uptake of CHTC by 40%, an outcome that would be highly desirable in populations with high HIV prevalence. Trial registration Retrospectively registered. ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN 46162564 Registered on 26th May 2022. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13894-3.
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Lelaka CM, Moyo I, Tshivhase L, Mavhandu-Mudzusi AH. Psychosocial support for HIV serodiscordant couples. Health Psychol Behav Med 2022; 10:537-556. [PMID: 35756334 PMCID: PMC9225695 DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2084098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic, with 8.2 million people living with the virus. It has a high HIV prevalence of 13.7% and 230,000 new infections in 2020. It is estimated that HIV serodiscordant couples contribute up to 60% of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there have been no specific programmes/activities to deliberately cater for couples in HIV serodiscordant relationships. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychosocial support provided for HIV serodiscordant couples both in health care settings and in the community. Methods An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design was utilised for this study. In-depth interviews were conducted with thirteen HIV serodiscordant couples. Data collection was guided by an interview guide. All audio-recorded interview data were transcribed verbatim into written text. Data analysis was conducted using an interpretative phenomenological analysis framework. A third person-an expert in qualitative research, acted as an independent co-coder and conducted the open coding of each transcript. Findings The findings indicated that HIV serodiscordant couples received psychosocial support from their partners, family, and health care workers. This support was emotional, or in the form of counselling, reminders on taking medication, financial and household chores. The support provided by health care providers proved to be deficient and did not address the diverse needs of this group. Conclusion Psychosocial support plays a critical role in enhancing the quality of life of HIV serodiscordant couples. Therefore, client centred, and tailor-made interventions should be made available to this special with diverse needs group.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Idah Moyo
- Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Livhuwani Tshivhase
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
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