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Safren SA, Lee JS, Andersen LS, Stanton AM, Kagee A, Kirakosian N, O'Cleirigh C, Joska JA. The salience of structural barriers and behavioral health problems to ART adherence in people receiving HIV primary care in South Africa. AIDS Care 2024:1-7. [PMID: 38359349 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2024.2308750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Multilevel factors (individual and structural) influence adherence to antiretroviral therapy, particularly in high HIV prevalence areas such as South Africa. The present study examined the relative importance of structural barriers to HIV care and behavioral health factors, depression and alcohol use, in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa. People receiving HIV care in six primary care clinics in Khayelitsha (N = 194) completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Structural Barriers to Medication Taking questionnaire, and a qualitative rating of past-two-week adherence. Correlations were employed to examine associations among these variables, and hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the unique effects of structural barriers over and above depression and alcohol use as predictors of adherence. Participants were primarily Black South African (99%) women (83%), and 41 years old on average. All four variables were significantly correlated. The hierarchical regression analysis showed that among behavioral health predictors, alcohol use alone significantly predicted ART adherence (b = -.032, p = .002). When structural barriers was added to the model, it was the only significant unique predictor of ART adherence (b = -1.58, p < .001). Findings highlight the need to consider structural vulnerabilities in HIV care in South Africa when developing behavioral health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A Safren
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Jasper S Lee
- Behavioral Medicine Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lena S Andersen
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amelia M Stanton
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ashraf Kagee
- Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Norik Kirakosian
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Conall O'Cleirigh
- Behavioral Medicine Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John A Joska
- HIV Mental Health Research Unit, Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Lee JS, Bainter SA, Tsai AC, Andersen LS, Stanton AM, Magidson JF, Kagee A, Joska JA, O'Cleirigh C, Safren SA. Intersecting Relationships of Psychosocial and Structural Syndemic Problems Among People with HIV in South Africa: Using Network Analysis to Identify Influential Problems. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:1741-1756. [PMID: 36309936 PMCID: PMC10148921 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03906-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper S Lee
- Behavioral Medicine Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Sq, 7th Floor, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sierra A Bainter
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Alexander C Tsai
- Center for Global Health and Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lena S Andersen
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Ashraf Kagee
- Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - John A Joska
- HIV Mental Health Research Unit, Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Conall O'Cleirigh
- Behavioral Medicine Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Sq, 7th Floor, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steven A Safren
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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Kagee A, Saal W, De Villiers L, Sefatsa M, Bantjes J. The Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders Among South Africans Seeking HIV Testing. AIDS Behav 2017; 21:1511-1517. [PMID: 27188430 PMCID: PMC5114161 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1428-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We administered the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM to 485 persons seeking HIV testing at five community testing centres in South Africa to determine the prevalence of common mental disorders among this population. The prevalence estimates for the various disorders were as follows: major depressive disorder: 14.2 % (95 % CI [11.1, 17.3]); generalised anxiety disorder 5.0 % (95 % CI [3.07, 6.93]); posttraumatic stress disorder 4.9 % (95 % CI [2.98, 6.82]); and alcohol use disorder 19.8 % (95 % CI [16.26, 23.34]). Our findings imply the need to research the integration of screening and referral trajectories in the context of voluntary HIV counselling and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf Kagee
- Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Wylene Saal
- Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | | | - Mpho Sefatsa
- Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Health policy makers aspire to achieve an HIV treatment 'cascade' in which diagnostic and treatment services are accessed early and routinely by HIV-infected individuals. However, migrants and highly mobile individuals are likely to interact with HIV treatment programs and the healthcare system in ways that reflect their movement through time and place, affecting their successful progression through the HIV treatment cascade. We review recent research that has examined the challenges in effective and sustained HIV treatment for migrants and mobile populations. RECENT FINDINGS Mobility is associated with increased risk of antiretroviral therapy (ART) nonadherence, lost to follow-up, deterioration in CD4 count, HIV-related death, development of drug resistance and general noncontinuity of HIV care. Migrants' slow progression through the HIV treatment cascade can be attributed to feelings of confusion, helplessness; an inability to effectively communicate in the native language; poor knowledge about administrative or logistical requirements of the healthcare system; the possibility of deportation or expulsion based on the legal status of the undocumented migrant; fear of disclosure and social isolation from the exile or compatriot group. Travel or transition to the host country commonly makes it difficult for migrants to remain enrolled in ART programs and to maintain adherence to treatment. SUMMARY Existing public health systems fail to properly account for migration, and actionable knowledge of the health requirements of migrants is still lacking. A large body of research has shown that migrants are more likely to enter into the healthcare system late and are less likely to be retained at successive stages of the HIV treatment cascade. HIV-infected migrants are especially vulnerable to a wide range of social, economic and political factors that include a lack of direct access to healthcare services; exposure to difficult or oppressive work environments; the separation from family, friends and a familiar sociocultural environment. Realizing the full treatment and preventive benefits of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 strategy will require reaching all marginalized subpopulations of which migrants are a particularly large and important group.
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