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Nelson KA, Magut F, Mulwa S, Osindo J, Kamire V, Khagayi S, Pulerwitz J, Cook S, Gourlay A, Ziraba A, Kwaro D, Floyd S, Birdthistle I. Impact of DREAMS interventions on attitudes towards gender norms among adolescent girls and young women: Findings from a prospective cohort in Kenya. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002929. [PMID: 38446820 PMCID: PMC10917282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The DREAMS partnership aims to deliver a comprehensive package to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), including through shifting gender norms. We evaluate DREAMS' effect on attitudes towards gender norms in two Kenyan settings. AGYW aged 15-22 in Nairobi (n = 852) and Gem (n = 761) were randomly selected for cohort enrolment in 2017-18 and followed-up to 2019. We described the proportion of AGYW and their male peers with equitable attitudes towards gender norms, using an adapted version of the GEM scale. We estimated the association between self-reported invitation to DREAMS (in 2017-18) and AGYW's attitudes towards two dimensions of gender norms, and then applied a causal inference framework to estimate the difference in the proportion of AGYW with equitable attitudes under the counterfactual scenarios that all versus none were DREAMS beneficiaries. We estimated that overall, 90.2% versus 87.1% of AGYW would have equitable norms around sexual and reproductive health decision-making in Nairobi if all versus none were DREAMS beneficiaries (+3.1; 95%CI:-2.5, +9.0). In Gem, we estimated a risk difference of +1.0 (89.6% vs 88.6%, 95%CI: -3.6,+5.6). There was no evidence for an effect of DREAMS on attitudes towards violence-related norms (Nairobi: 82.7% vs 82.2%, +0.5; 95%CI: -5.3,+6.5; Gem: 44.3% vs 48.2%, -3.9; 95%CI: -11.7,+3.0). We found no evidence of an impact of DREAMS invitation on individual attitudes towards gender norms. In some cases, equitable attitudes at enrolment left limited scope for improvement, and additional effort may be required to shift inequitable violence attitudes among both AGYW and their male peers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Andrews Nelson
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Faith Magut
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Sarah Mulwa
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jane Osindo
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Julie Pulerwitz
- Population Council, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Sarah Cook
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Annabelle Gourlay
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abdhalah Ziraba
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Sian Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Conserve DF, Abu-Ba'are GR, Janson S, Mhando F, Munisi GV, Drezgic B, Rehani A, Sims W, Ritchwood T, Choko A, Mushy S, Johnson C, Mayo-Wilson LJ, Komba A, Urasa P, Nelson L, Mbita G. Peer-based Promotion and Nurse-led Distribution of HIV Self-Testing Among Networks of Men in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Development and Feasibility Results of the STEP Intervention. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3283552. [PMID: 37674705 PMCID: PMC10479444 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3283552/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Background According to the 2016-2017 Tanzania HIV Impact Survey, only 45% of men living with HIV (MLWH) were aware of their HIV status. In an effort to increase HIV testing in Tanzania, including among men, the Government of Tanzania passed a law in December 2019 to allowing HIV self-testing (HIVST) to be included in the national testing strategies. The objective of this paper is to describe the development and pilot feasibility assessment of the Self-Testing Education and Promotion (STEP) intervention, which was one of the projects conducted in Tanzania focusing on men to inform policy change. Methods The development and piloting processes were guided by the ADAPT-ITT model and informed by a national PEPFAR/USAID-funded HIV implementation science project called Sauti.The adapted STEP intervention included the following two components: 1) peer-based HIVST promotion; and 2) nurse-led HIVST distribution. For the feasibility assessment, 25 men were selected and trained to promote HIVST among their peers before helping to recruit 253 men to receive instructions and collect an HIVST kit from a nurse at a community-based study tent site. Results Of the 236 participants who completed the 1-month follow-up survey, 98.3% reported using the kit. The majority (92.4%) of participants reported a negative HIVST result while 4.2% (n=10) received a positive result. Most (70%, n=7) of the participants with a positive result sought follow-up services at a healthcare facility while 40.3% (n=95) of the participants with a negative self-test result visited the community-based project site. Most of the men (53%, n =129) did not visit a healthcare facility or the study site. The majority of participants reported having a mobile phone and forty-seven of them called someone to share their results while twenty-seven sent a text message about their results. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that the combined peer-based promotion and nurse-led distribution of HIVST intervention in the community for men was acceptable and feasible. However, the high proportion of men who visited the tent site in the community after self-testing indicated that future research should evaluate the potential for nurses to provide community-based linkage to HIV care and prevention services for self-testers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Stella Mushy
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
| | | | | | - Albert Komba
- Jhpiego Tanzania - An Affiliate of Johns Hopkins University
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Chimbindi N, Mthiyane N, Chidumwa G, Zuma T, Dreyer J, Birdthistle I, Floyd S, Kyegombe N, Grundy C, Cawood C, Danaviah S, Smit T, Pillay D, Baisley K, Harling G, Seeley J, Shahmanesh M. Evaluating use of mass-media communication intervention 'MTV-Shuga' on increased awareness and demand for HIV and sexual health services by adolescent girls and young women in South Africa: an observational study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e062804. [PMID: 37208144 PMCID: PMC10201230 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of exposure to MTV Shuga:Down South' (MTVShuga-DS) during the scale-up of combination HIV-prevention interventions on awareness and uptake of sexual reproductive health (SRH) and HIV-prevention services by adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). DESIGN One longitudinal and three cross-sectional surveys of representative samples of AGYW. SETTING AGYW in four South African districts with high HIV prevalence (>10%) (May 2017 and September 2019). PARTICIPANTS 6311 AGYW aged 12-24. MEASURES Using logistic regression, we measured the relationship between exposure to MTV Shuga-DS and awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condom use at last sex, uptake of HIV-testing or contraception, and incident pregnancy or herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infection. RESULTS Within the rural cohort 2184 (85.5%) of eligible sampled individuals were enrolled, of whom 92.6% had at least one follow-up visit; the urban cross-sectional surveys enrolled 4127 (22.6%) of eligible sampled individuals. Self-report of watching at least one MTV Shuga-DS episode was 14.1% (cohort) and 35.8% (cross-section), while storyline recall was 5.5% (cohort) and 6.7% (cross-section). In the cohort, after adjustment (for HIV-prevention intervention-exposure, age, education, socioeconomic status), MTVShuga-DS exposure was associated with increased PrEP awareness (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.06, 95% CI 1.57 to 2.70), contraception uptake (aOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.98) and consistent condom use (aOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.93), but not with HIV testing (aOR 1.02, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.21) or acquiring HSV-2 (aOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.38). In the cross-sections, MTVShuga-DS was associated with greater PrEP awareness (aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.43), but no other outcome. CONCLUSIONS Among both urban and rural AGYW in South Africa, MTVShuga-DS exposure was associated with increased PrEP awareness and improved demand for some HIV prevention and SRH technologies but not sexual health outcomes. However, exposure to MTVShuga-DS was low. Given these positive indications, supportive programming may be required to raise exposure and allow future evaluation of edu-drama impact in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsayi Chimbindi
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Glory Chidumwa
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Thembelihle Zuma
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jaco Dreyer
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London, UK
| | - Sian Floyd
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nambusi Kyegombe
- MRC Uganda Virus Research Institute, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Chris Grundy
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London, UK
| | | | - Siva Danaviah
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Theresa Smit
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Deenan Pillay
- Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kathy Baisley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Guy Harling
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
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Machingura F, Busza J, Jamali GM, Makamba M, Mushati P, Chiyaka T, Hargreaves J, Hensen B, Birdthistle I, Cowan FM. Facilitators and barriers to engaging with the DREAMS initiative among young women who sell sex aged 18-24 in Zimbabwe: a qualitative study. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:257. [PMID: 37173783 PMCID: PMC10182710 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02374-4] [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: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are at high risk of contracting HIV and exchanging sex for financial or material support heightens their risk. In Zimbabwe, the DREAMS initiative integrated education and employment opportunities within HIV health promotion and clinical services for vulnerable young women, including those who sell sex. While most participants accessed health services, fewer than 10% participated in any social programmes. METHODS We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 43 young women aged 18-24 to understand their experiences of engaging with the DREAMS programme. We purposively sampled participants for diversity in level of education, type and location of selling sex. We analysed the data by applying the Theoretical Domains Framework to explore facilitators and barriers to engaging with DREAMS. RESULTS Eligible women were motivated by hopes of escaping poverty, and their longer-term engagement was sustained through exposure to new social networks, including friendships with less vulnerable peers. Barriers included opportunity costs and expenses such as transport or equipment required for job placements. Participants also described pervasive stigma and discrimination related to their involvement in selling sex. Interviews highlighted the young women's struggles in a context of entrenched social and material deprivation and structural discrimination that hindered their ability to take up most of the social services offered. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that while poverty was a key driver of participation in an integrated package of support, it also constrained the ability of highly vulnerable young women to benefit fully from the DREAMS initiative. Multi-layered HIV prevention approaches such as DREAMS that seek to alter complex and longstanding social and economic deprivation address many of the challenges faced by YWSS but will only succeed if the underlying drivers of HIV risk among YWSS are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fortunate Machingura
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research, (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 4 Bath Road, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe.
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Joanna Busza
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Gracious Madimutsa Jamali
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research, (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 4 Bath Road, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Memory Makamba
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research, (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 4 Bath Road, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Phillis Mushati
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research, (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 4 Bath Road, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Tarisai Chiyaka
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research, (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 4 Bath Road, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - James Hargreaves
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Bernadette Hensen
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Frances Mary Cowan
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research, (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, 4 Bath Road, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Wambiya EOA, Gourlay AJ, Mulwa S, Magut F, Mthiyane N, Orindi B, Chimbindi N, Kwaro D, Shahmanesh M, Floyd S, Birdthistle I, Ziraba A. Impact of DREAMS interventions on experiences of violence among adolescent girls and young women: Findings from population-based cohort studies in Kenya and South Africa. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001818. [PMID: 37163514 PMCID: PMC10171651 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
DREAMS aims to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) by tackling drivers of HIV risk including gender-based violence. We evaluate the impact of DREAMS on recent experiences of violence perpetuated by men against AGYW. AGYW cohorts were randomly selected from demographic platforms in South Africa (rural KwaZulu-Natal) and Kenya (Nairobi informal settlements and rural Gem sub-county). AGYW aged 13-22 years were enrolled in 2017 (Nairobi, KwaZulu-Natal) or 2018 (Gem), with annual follow-up to 2019. We described proportions of AGYW who self-reported experiences of violence perpetrated by males in the 12 months preceding the interview, overall and by form (physical, sexual, emotional). We investigated associations with DREAMS (invitation to participate during 2017-2018) through multivariable propensity score-adjusted logistic regression and estimated the causal effect of DREAMS on experiences of violence, under counter-factual scenarios in which all versus no AGYW were DREAMS beneficiaries. Among 852, 1018 and 1712 AGYW followed-up in 2019 in Nairobi, Gem and KZN, respectively, proportions reporting any violence in 2019 were higher in Nairobi (29%) than Gem (18%) and KwaZulu-Natal (19%). By sub-type, emotional and physical violence were more frequently reported than sexual violence. We found no evidence of an impact attributable to DREAMS on overall levels of violence, in any setting. Nor was there evidence of impact on sub-types of violence, with one exception: an increase in physical violence in Nairobi if all, versus no, AGYW were DREAMS beneficiaries (16% vs 11%; +5% difference [95% CI: +0.2%, +10.0%]). Experiences of gender-based violence were common among AGYW, especially in urban settings, and DREAMS had no measurable impact on reducing violence within three years of implementation. Violence prevention programming that reaches more men and the broader community, sustained for longer periods, may yield greater gains in violence reduction than AGYW-focused programming. Additionally, more investment in implementation research is needed to bridge trial-based study findings from efficacy to population-level effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis Omondi Achach Wambiya
- School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Health and Systems for Health, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Annabelle J. Gourlay
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Mulwa
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Faith Magut
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Nondumiso Mthiyane
- Clinical Research Department, Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benedict Orindi
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Center for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Natsayi Chimbindi
- Clinical Research Department, Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Daniel Kwaro
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Clinical Research Department, Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Sian Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abdhalah Ziraba
- Health and Systems for Health, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
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Howes A, Risher KA, Nguyen VK, Stevens O, Jia KM, Wolock TM, Esra RT, Zembe L, Wanyeki I, Mahy M, Benedikt C, Flaxman SR, Eaton JW. Spatio-temporal estimates of HIV risk group proportions for adolescent girls and young women across 13 priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001731. [PMID: 37075002 PMCID: PMC10115274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
The Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 identifies adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) as a priority population for HIV prevention, and recommends differentiating intervention portfolios geographically based on local HIV incidence and individual risk behaviours. We estimated prevalence of HIV risk behaviours and associated HIV incidence at health district level among AGYW living in 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We analysed 46 geospatially-referenced national household surveys conducted between 1999-2018 across 13 high HIV burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Female survey respondents aged 15-29 years were classified into four risk groups (not sexually active, cohabiting, non-regular or multiple partner[s] and female sex workers [FSW]) based on reported sexual behaviour. We used a Bayesian spatio-temporal multinomial regression model to estimate the proportion of AGYW in each risk group stratified by district, year, and five-year age group. Using subnational estimates of HIV prevalence and incidence produced by countries with support from UNAIDS, we estimated new HIV infections in each risk group by district and age group. We then assessed the efficiency of prioritising interventions according to risk group. Data consisted of 274,970 female survey respondents aged 15-29. Among women aged 20-29, cohabiting (63.1%) was more common in eastern Africa than non-regular or multiple partner(s) (21.3%), while in southern countries non-regular or multiple partner(s) (58.9%) were more common than cohabiting (23.4%). Risk group proportions varied substantially across age groups (65.9% of total variation explained), countries (20.9%), and between districts within each country (11.3%), but changed little over time (0.9%). Prioritisation based on behavioural risk, in combination with location- and age-based prioritisation, reduced the proportion of population required to be reached in order to find half of all expected new infections from 19.4% to 10.6%. FSW were 1.3% of the population but 10.6% of all expected new infections. Our risk group estimates provide data for HIV programmes to set targets and implement differentiated prevention strategies outlined in the Global AIDS Strategy. Successfully implementing this approach would result in more efficiently reaching substantially more of those at risk for infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Howes
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn A. Risher
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Heidelberg Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Van Kính Nguyen
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States of America
| | - Oliver Stevens
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine M. Jia
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Timothy M. Wolock
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel T. Esra
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lycias Zembe
- Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ian Wanyeki
- Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mary Mahy
- Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Seth R. Flaxman
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey W. Eaton
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Bose DL, Hundal A, Singh S, Singh S, Seth K, Hadi SU, Saran A, Joseph J, Goyal K, Salve S. Evidence and gap map report: Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) interventions for strengthening HIV prevention and research among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). CAMPBELL SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2023; 19:e1297. [PMID: 36911864 PMCID: PMC9831290 DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), aged 15-24 years, are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks due to varying social, cultural, and economic factors that affect their choices and shape their knowledge, understanding, and practices with regard to their health. Socio-Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) interventions targeted at strengthening the capabilities of individuals and their networks have supported the demand and uptake of prevention services and participation in biomedical research. However, despite growing global recognition of the domain, high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of SBCC remains scattered. This evidence and gap map (EGM) report characterizes the evidence base on SBCC interventions for strengthening HIV Prevention and Research among AGYW in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), identifying evidence gaps and outlining the scope of future research and program design. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the proposed EGM are to: (a) identify and map existing EGMs in the use of diverse SBCC strategies to strengthen the adoption of HIV prevention measures and participation in research among AGYW in LMICs and (b) identify areas where more interventions and evidence are needed to inform the design of future SBCC strategies and programs for AGYW engagement in HIV prevention and research. METHODS This EGM is based on a comprehensive search of systematic reviews and impact evaluations corresponding to a range of interventions and outcomes-aimed at engaging AGYW in HIV prevention and research - that were published in LMICs from January 2000 to April 2021. Based on guidance for producing a Campbell Collaboration EGM, the intervention and outcome framework was designed in consultation with a group of experts. These interventions were categorized across four broad intervention themes: mass-media, community-based, interpersonal, and Information Communication and Technology (ICT)/Digital Media-based interventions. They were further sub-categorized into 15 intervention categories. Included studies looked at 23 unique behavioral and health outcomes such as knowledge attitude and skills, relationship dynamics, household dynamics, health care services, and health outcomes and research engagement. The EGM is presented as a matrix in which the rows are intervention categories/sub-categories, and the columns are outcome domains/subdomains. Each cell is mapped to an intervention targeted at outcomes. Additional filters like region, country, study design, age group, funding agency, influencers, population group, publication status, study confidence, setting, and year of publication have been added. SELECTION CRITERIA To be eligible, studies must have tested the effectiveness of SBCC interventions at engaging AGYW in LMICs in HIV prevention and research. The study sample must have consisted of AGYW between the ages of 15-24, as defined by UNAIDS. Both experimental (random assignment) and quasi-experimental studies that included a comparison group were eligible. Relevant outcomes included those at the individual, influencer, and institutional levels, along with those targeting research engagement and prevention-related outcomes. RESULTS This EGM comprises 415 impact evaluations and 43 systematic reviews. Interventions like peer-led interactions, counseling, and community dialogues were the most dominant intervention sub-types. Despite increased digital penetration use of media and technology-driven interventions are relatively less studied. Most of the interventions were delivered by peers, health care providers, and educators, largely in school-based settings, and in many cases are part of sex-education curricula. Evidence across geographies was mostly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa (70%). Most measured outcomes focused on disease-related knowledge dissemination and enhancing awareness of available prevention options/strategies. These included messaging around consistent condom use, limiting sexual partners, routine testing, and awareness. Very few studies were able to include psychographic, social, and contextual factors influencing AGYW health behaviors and decisions, especially those measuring the impact of social and gender norms, relationship dynamics, and household dynamics-related outcomes. Outcomes related to engagement in the research were least studied. CONCLUSION This EGM highlights that evidence is heavily concentrated within the awareness-intent spectrum of behavior change and gets lean for outcomes situated within the intent-action and the action-habit formation spectrum of the behavior change continuum. Most of the evidence was concentrated on increasing awareness, knowledge, and building risk perception around SRH domains, however, fewer studies focused on strengthening the agency and self-efficacy of individuals. Similarly, evidence on extrinsic factors-such as strengthening social and community norms, relationships, and household dynamics-that determine individual thought and action such as negotiation and life skills were also found to be less populated. Few studies explore the effectiveness of these interventions across diverse AGYW identities, like pregnant women and new mothers, sex workers, and people living with HIV, leading to limited understanding of the use of these interventions across multiple user segments including key influencers such as young men, partners, families, religious leaders, and community elders was relatively low. There is a need for better quality evidence that accounts for the diversity of experiences within these populations to understand what interventions work, for whom, and toward what outcome. Further, the evidence for use of digital and mass-media tools remains poorly populated. Given the increasing penetration of these tools and growing media literacy on one end, with widening gender-based gaps on the other, it is imperative to gather more high-quality evidence on their effectiveness. Timely evidence generation can help leverage these platforms appropriately and enable intervention designs that are responsive to changing communication ecologies of AGYW. SBCC can play a critical role in helping researchers meaningfully engage and collaborate with communities as equal stakeholders, however, this remains poorly evidenced and calls for investigation and investment. A full list of abbreviations and acronyms are available in Supporting Information: Appendix F.
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Rudgard WE, Saminathen MG, Banougnin BH, Shenderovich Y, Toska E. The role of structural factors for preventing HIV risk practices among adolescents in South Africa: A three-wave analysis of caregiving, education, food security, and social protection. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2164051. [PMID: 36798325 PMCID: PMC9934770 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2164051/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural interventions are endorsed to enhance biomedical and behavioural HIV prevention programmes for adolescents. Aiming to inform future interventions, we evaluated longitudinal associations between six structural factors and five HIV risk practices in a cohort of adolescents in South Africa. METHODS We used three rounds of data between 2014-2018 on 1046 adolescents living with HIV and 483 age-matched community peers in South Africa's Eastern Cape (Observations = 4402). We used multivariable random effects within-between logistic regression to estimate sex-specific associations between six time-varying structural factors - number of social grants, education enrolment, days with enough food, caregiver supervision, positive caregiving, and adolescent-caregiver communication - and five HIV risk practices - multiple sexual partners, transactional sex, age-disparate sex, condomless sex, and sex on substances. We calculated probability differences, contrasting predicted probabilities at average and maximum values of structural factors associated with multiple risk practices. FINDINGS The sample mean age was 15.29 (SD: 3.23) years and 58% were female. In females, compared to average, maximum positive caregiving scores were associated with lower probability of transactional sex (-1.06 percentage points [ppts], 95%CI=-1.60; -0.52ppts), and age-disparate sex (-0.73ppts; 95%CI=-1.26; -0.19ppts); maximum caregiver supervision scores were associated with lower probability of multiple sexual partners (-3.11ppts; 95%CI=-3.87; -2.35ppts) transactional sex (-1.07ppts, 95%CI=-1.42; -0.71ppts), age-disparate sex (-0.67ppts; 95%CI=-1.08; -0.25ppts), condomless sex (-3.96ppts; 95%CI=-5.65; -2.26ppts), and sex on substances (-0.93ppts; 95%CI=-1.50; -0.37ppts); and, seven days with enough food was associated with lower probability of multiple sexual partners (-1.18ppts, 95%CI=-2.06; -0.30ppts), and transactional sex (-0.91ppts; 95%CI=-1.41; -0.42ppts). Relative to non-enrolment, education enrolment was associated with lower probability of age-disparate sex (-3.18ppts; 95%CI=-5.35; -1.01ppts), and condomless sex (-11.32ppts; 95%CI=-19.15; -3.49ppts). In males, compared to average, maximum caregiver supervision scores were associated with lower probability of multiple sexual partners (-2.83ppts; 95%CI=-3.66; -2.00ppts), transactional sex (-0.90ppts; 95%CI=-1.20; -0.60ppts), age-disparate sex (-0.46ppts; 95%CI=-0.77; -0.15ppts), and sex on substances (-1.42ppts; 95%CI=-2.06; -0.78ppts). No other structural factors were associated with multiple risk practices. INTERPRETATION Structural interventions to improve food security and education enrolment among adolescent girls, and positive and supervisory caregiving among adolescent girls and boys are likely to translate into crucial reductions in HIV risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Elona Toska
- University of Cape Town Centre for Social Science Research
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Daniels J, De Vos L, Bezuidenhout D, Atujuna M, Celum C, Hosek S, Bekker LG, Medina-Marino A. "I know why I am taking this pill": Young women navigation of disclosure and support for PrEP uptake and adherence in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0000636. [PMID: 36962727 PMCID: PMC10021316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
There is limited understanding of the dynamic interplay between adolescent girl's and young women's (AGYW) disclosure and social support for using oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and adherence. Towards this, we conducted interviews with 42 AGYW enrolled in The Community PrEP Study who exhibited either high or low blood concentrations of tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) in dried blood spots. Guided by Theories of Practice, interviews and analysis focused on AGYW perspectives and experiences with PrEP disclosure, support and adherence. AGYW with high TFV-DP blood concentrations described larger social support networks and disclosure events. In contrast, those with low TFV-DP blood concentrations described disclosing to fewer people, resulting in limited social support. Participants discussed partner support, however, this support was not described as consequential to adherence, irrespective of TFV-DP levels. Those with high levels of TFV-DP in their blood described the ability to navigate social scrutiny and changes in social support, while those with low levels of TFV-DP in their blood were more likely to question their own continued use of PrEP. To facilitate AGYW's prevention-effective use of PrEP, expanded skill-building for disclosure and resiliency against changes to social support should be examined as part of PrEP services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Daniels
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Lindsey De Vos
- Research Unit, Foundation for Professional Development, Buffalo City Metro, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
| | - Dana Bezuidenhout
- Research Unit, Foundation for Professional Development, Buffalo City Metro, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, United States of America
| | - Millicent Atujuna
- The Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Connie Celum
- Departments of Global Health, Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Sybil Hosek
- Departments of Psychiatry and Infectious Disease, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Linda-Gail Bekker
- The Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andrew Medina-Marino
- Research Unit, Foundation for Professional Development, Buffalo City Metro, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- The Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Departments of Psychiatry and Infectious Disease, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
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10
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Velloza J, Roche S, Concepcion T, Ortblad KF. Advancing considerations of context in the evaluation and implementation of evidence-based biomedical HIV prevention interventions: a review of recent research. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2023; 18:1-11. [PMID: 36503876 PMCID: PMC9757852 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW A paradigm shift is needed in how we think about biomedical HIV prevention product effectiveness. Often, we expect randomized trial findings to be generalizable across populations and settings where products will be delivered, without consideration of key contextual drivers that could impact effectiveness. Moreover, researchers and policy-makers generally discount products with varied effect sizes across contexts, rather than explicating the drivers of these differences and using them to inform equitable product choice and delivery. We conducted a review of the recent HIV prevention research to advance considerations of context in choices of when, why, and how to implement biomedical HIV prevention products, with a particular focus on daily oral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the dapivirine vaginal ring (DPV). RECENT FINDINGS Findings across recent studies of PrEP and DPV emphasize that products that do not work well in one context might be highly desirable in another. Key contextual drivers of PrEP and DPV effectiveness, use, and implementation include population, health system, cultural, and historical factors. We recommend conceptualization, measurement, and analysis approaches to fully understand the potential impact of context on prevention product delivery. Execution of these approaches has real-world implications for HIV prevention product choice and could prevent the field from dismissing biomedical HIV prevention products based on trial findings alone. SUMMARY Ending the HIV epidemic will require tailored, person-centered, and equitable approaches to design, implement, and evaluate HIV prevention products which necessitates considerations of context in ongoing research and implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Velloza
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Stephanie Roche
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Public Health Sciences Division
| | - Tessa Concepcion
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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11
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Atkins S, Heimo L, Carter DJ, Ribas Closa M, Vanleeuw L, Chenciner L, Wambi P, Sidney-Annerstedt K, Egere U, Verkuijl S, Brands A, Masini T, Viney K, Wingfield T, Lönnroth K, Boccia D. The socioeconomic impact of tuberculosis on children and adolescents: a scoping review and conceptual framework. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2153. [PMID: 36419146 PMCID: PMC9686126 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14579-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) has been repeatedly shown to have socioeconomic impacts in both individual-level and ecological studies; however, much less is known about this effect among children and adolescents and the extent to which being affected by TB during childhood and adolescence can have life-course implications. This paper describes the results of the development of a conceptual framework and scoping review to review the evidence on the short- and long-term socioeconomic impact of tuberculosis on children and adolescents. OBJECTIVES To increase knowledge of the socioeconomic impact of TB on children and adolescents. METHODS We developed a conceptual framework of the socioeconomic impact of TB on children and adolescents, and used scoping review methods to search for evidence supporting or disproving it. We searched four academic databases from 1 January 1990 to 6 April 2021 and conducted targeted searches of grey literature. We extracted data using a standard form and analysed data thematically. RESULTS Thirty-six studies (29 qualitative, five quantitative and two mixed methods studies) were included in the review. Overall, the evidence supported the conceptual framework, suggesting a severe socioeconomic impact of TB on children and adolescents through all the postulated pathways. Effects ranged from impoverishment, stigma, and family separation, to effects on nutrition and missed education opportunities. TB did not seem to exert a different socioeconomic impact when directly or indirectly affecting children/adolescents, suggesting that TB can affect this group even when they are not affected by the disease. No study provided sufficient follow-up to observe the long-term socioeconomic effect of TB in this age group. CONCLUSION The evidence gathered in this review reinforces our understanding of the impact of TB on children and adolescents and highlights the importance of considering effects during the entire life course. Both ad-hoc and sustainable social protection measures and strategies are essential to mitigate the socioeconomic consequences of TB among children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Atkins
- WHO Collaborating Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
| | - L Heimo
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - D J Carter
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - M Ribas Closa
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - L Vanleeuw
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - L Chenciner
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - P Wambi
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
| | - K Sidney-Annerstedt
- WHO Collaborating Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - U Egere
- Departments of Clinical Sciences and International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - S Verkuijl
- WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A Brands
- WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - T Masini
- WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - K Viney
- WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - T Wingfield
- WHO Collaborating Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Departments of Clinical Sciences and International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - K Lönnroth
- WHO Collaborating Centre On Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - D Boccia
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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12
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Kamire V, Magut F, Khagayi S, Kambona C, Muttai H, Nganga L, Kwaro D, Joseph RH. HIV Risk Factors and Risk Perception Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Results From a Population-Based Survey in Western Kenya, 2018. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2022; 91:17-25. [PMID: 35972852 PMCID: PMC9387564 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) is 2-fold to 3-fold higher than that in adolescent boys and young men. Understanding AGYW's perception of HIV risk is essential for HIV prevention efforts. METHODS We analyzed data from a HIV biobehavioral survey conducted in western Kenya in 2018. Data from AGYW aged 15-24 years who had a documented HIV status were included. We calculated weighted prevalence and evaluated factors associated with outcomes of interest (HIV infection and high risk perception) using generalized linear models to calculate prevalence ratios. RESULTS A total of 3828 AGYW were included; 63% were aged 15-19 years. HIV prevalence was 4.5% and 14.5% of sexually active AGYW had high risk perception. Over 70% of participants had accessed HIV testing and counseling in the past 12 months. Factors associated with both HIV infection and high risk perception included having an HIV-positive partner or partner with unknown status and having a sexually transmitted infection in the past 12 months. Having an older (by ≥10 years) partner was associated with HIV infection, but not high risk perception. Less than 30% of sexually active AGYW with 3 or more HIV risk factors had high perception of HIV risk. CONCLUSION Gaps in perceived HIV risk persist among AGYW in Kenya. High access to HIV testing and prevention services in this population highlights platforms through which AGYW may be reached with improved risk counseling, and to increase uptake of HIV prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivienne Kamire
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Centre for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kenya
| | - Faith Magut
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Centre for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kenya
| | - Sammy Khagayi
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Centre for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kenya
| | - Caroline Kambona
- Division of Global HIV & TB (DGHT), Center for Global Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kenya
| | - Hellen Muttai
- Division of Global HIV & TB (DGHT), Center for Global Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kenya
| | - Lucy Nganga
- Division of Global HIV & TB (DGHT), Center for Global Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kenya
| | - Daniel Kwaro
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Centre for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kenya
| | - Rachael H. Joseph
- Division of Global HIV & TB (DGHT), Center for Global Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kenya
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13
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Chabata ST, Makandwa R, Hensen B, Mushati P, Chiyaka T, Musemburi S, Busza J, Floyd S, Birdthistle I, Hargreaves JR, Cowan FM. Strategies to Identify and Reach Young Women Who Sell Sex With HIV Prevention and Care Services: Lessons Learnt From the Implementation of DREAMS Services in Two Cities in Zimbabwe. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2022; 8:e32286. [PMID: 35896024 PMCID: PMC9377473 DOI: 10.2196/32286] [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: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young women who sell sex (YWSS), are underserved by available HIV prevention and care services. The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) Partnership aimed to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition among vulnerable populations of adolescent girls and young women, including YWSS, in 10 sub-Saharan African countries. We describe 2 methods, respondent-driven sampling (RDS) and peer outreach, used to refer YWSS for DREAMS services in Zimbabwe, and compare the characteristics and engagement of YWSS referred to these services by each method. We hypothesized that RDS would identify YWSS at higher risk of HIV and those who were less engaged with HIV prevention and care services than peer outreach. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare respondent-driven sampling and peer outreach in recruiting and referring high-risk populations for HIV prevention and care services. METHODS We used RDS, a sampling method designed to reach a representative sample of the network of key populations, and peer outreach, a programmatic approach to identify, reach, and refer YWSS for DREAMS between April and July 2017, and January 2017 and July 2018, respectively, in 2 cities in Zimbabwe. For RDS, we conducted detailed mapping to understand sex work typology and geography, and then purposively selected 10 "seed" participants in each city to initiate RDS. For peer outreach, we initiated recruitment through 18 trained and age-matched peer educators using youth-tailored community mobilization. We described the characteristics and service engagement of YWSS who accessed DREAMS services by each referral approach and assessed the association of these characteristics with referral approach using the chi-square test. Analysis was performed with and without restricting the period when RDS took place. We estimated the relative incremental costs of recruiting YWSS using each strategy for referral to DREAMS services. RESULTS Overall, 5386 and 1204 YWSS were referred for DREAMS services through peer outreach and RDS, respectively. YWSS referred through RDS were more likely to access DREAMS services compared to YWSS referred through peer outreach (501/1204, 41.6% vs 930/5386, 17.3%; P<.001). Regardless of referral approach, YWSS who accessed DREAMS had similar education levels, and a similar proportion tested HIV negative and reported not using a condom at the last sex act. A higher proportion of YWSS accessing DREAMS through RDS were aged 18-19 years (167/501, 33.3% vs 243/930, 26.1%; P=.004) and more likely to be aware of their HIV status (395/501, 78.8% vs 396/930, 42.6%; P<.001) compared to those accessing DREAMS services through peer outreach. The incremental cost per young woman who sells sex recruited was US $7.46 for peer outreach and US $52.81 for RDS. CONCLUSIONS Peer outreach and RDS approaches can reach and refer high-risk but different groups of YWSS for HIV services, and using both approaches will likely improve reach. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-DOI 10.1186/s12889-018-5085-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungai T Chabata
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR), Harare, Zimbabwe.,Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rumbidzo Makandwa
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR), Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Bernadette Hensen
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Phillis Mushati
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR), Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Tarisai Chiyaka
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR), Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Joanna Busza
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sian Floyd
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - James R Hargreaves
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frances M Cowan
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR), Harare, Zimbabwe.,Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Ohiomoba RO, Owuor PM, Orero W, Were I, Sawo F, Ezema A, Jackson-Gibson M, Hirschhorn LR. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Initiation and Retention Among Young Kenyan Women. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:2376-2386. [PMID: 35061115 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03576-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, Safe) Initiative works to reduce HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) through prevention interventions including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Pamoja CBO in Kisumu, Kenya implemented DREAMS. We describe PrEP initiation and persistence in 549 AGYW who started PrEP through Pamoja and factors associated with discontinuation. Median persistence time was 308 days (95% CI 245, 382) with 59% of AGYW discontinuing by the end of the study. The most common reasons for stopping PrEP were lack of perceived risk (27.9%) and relocation (18.7%). In the multivariable model, only age < 18 was associated with stopping PrEP. Younger age was associated with shorter time to discontinuation. Implementing PrEP through DREAMS was successful in supporting initiation of PrEP for AGYW. However, low rates of persistence at 1 year emphasizes the need for strategies to support PrEP persistence if HIV elimination is to be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramael O Ohiomoba
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.
- , 175 East Delaware, Apt. 8708, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Patrick Mbullo Owuor
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
- Pamoja CBO, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | | | | | - Ashley Ezema
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | | | - Lisa R Hirschhorn
- Department of Medical Social Science, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
- Institute of Global Health, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
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15
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Saul J, Toiv N, Cooney C, Beamon T, Borgman M, Bachman G, Akom E, Benevides R, Limb A, Sato K, Achrekar A, Birx D. The evolution of DREAMS: using data for continuous program improvement. AIDS 2022; 36:S5-S14. [PMID: 35766571 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe) Partnership, a public-private partnership launched by the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), represents the largest investment in comprehensive HIV prevention for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) ever made in a single global initiative. This paper describes the evolution of programming over time using the triangulation of multiple data sources to develop and refine an impactful program, as well as to improve efficacy and resource investment. Methods of analysis used to evolve this programming include reviews of literature on behavioral, biomedical and structural interventions, and HIV vulnerability; PEPFAR program data; external implementation science and impact studies;observations from site visits; in-depth reviews of program materials; and inputs from AGYW and other stakeholders. Key program improvements made in response to this real-time data use are described, including the rationale for programmatic changes and the evidence base for continual program refinements. This review emphasizes the importance and process of implementing the most effective combination of structural and biomedical HIV prevention programming, based on the best available science, while also adapting to local context in a way that does not compromise effectiveness or violate core implementation principles. Data from research and evaluation are critical to move the HIV prevention field toward more impactful and efficient programming responsive to the lived realities of AGYW. A central tenant to using these data sources effectively is the inclusion of AGYW in decision-making throughout the planning and implementation of programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Saul
- Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Nora Toiv
- Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Caroline Cooney
- Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Ta'Adhmeeka Beamon
- Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Mary Borgman
- Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Gretchen Bachman
- Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Eniko Akom
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Regina Benevides
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Kimi Sato
- Office of Global Health and HIV, Peace Corps, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Angeli Achrekar
- Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Deborah Birx
- Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia
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16
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Gourlay AJ, Birdthistle I, Mulwa S, Mthiyane NT, Magut F, Chimbindi N, Ziraba A, Otieno M, Kwaro D, Osindo J, Kamire V, Shahmanesh M, Floyd S. Awareness and uptake of the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe HIV prevention package over time among population-based cohorts of young women in Kenya and South Africa. AIDS 2022; 36:S27-S38. [PMID: 35766573 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate uptake of a complex intervention for HIV prevention among general populations of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in three diverse settings. DESIGN Cohorts of ∼1500 AGYW were randomly selected from demographic platforms in Kenya (Nairobi and Siaya) and South Africa (uMkhanyakude, KwaZulu-Natal). METHODS AGYW aged 13/15-22 years were enrolled in 2017 (Nairobi and uMkha-nyakude) or 2018 (Siaya), with annual follow-up to 2019. We describe awareness of DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe), self-reported invitation to participate, and uptake of DREAMS interventions by: categories and levels of the PEPFAR core package;number of 'primary' interventions (seven in Kenya;five in South Africa). Analyses were stratified by year invited and age at cohort enrolment. RESULTS Proportions aware and invited to DREAMS increased across all settings, to ≥ 83% aware and ≥ 53% invited by 2018 (highest among AGYW aged 13-17 years, e.g. 63 vs. 40% among 18-22 s, uMkhanyakude). HIV testing, school-based interventions and social protection were the most accessed categories, while differences in uptake by DREAMS invitation were greatest for novel DREAMS interventions, for example, social asset building (76% among those invited in 2017 and 2018 vs. 9% among those never-invited in Nairobi). Although few DREAMS invitees accessed all intended primary interventions by 2019 (2% of 15-17 s and 5% of 18-22 s in Gem), many accessed at least three interventions, including combinations across individual, family and community levels. CONCLUSION Over time, DREAMS reached high proportions of AGYW in all settings, particularly younger AGYW. Participation in combinations of interventions improved but uptake of the complete primary packages remained low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle J Gourlay
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
| | - Sarah Mulwa
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Faith Magut
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Abdhalah Ziraba
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Moses Otieno
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Daniel Kwaro
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Jane Osindo
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Vivienne Kamire
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sian Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
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Floyd S, Mulwa S, Magut F, Gourlay A, Mthiyane N, Kamire V, Osindo J, Otieno M, Chimbindi N, Ziraba A, Phillips-Howard P, Kwaro D, Shahmanesh M, Birdthistle I. DREAMS impact on HIV status knowledge and sexual risk among cohorts of young women in Kenya and South Africa. AIDS 2022; 36:S61-S73. [PMID: 35766576 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We sought evidence of DREAMS' impact on uptake of services and sexual risk among adolescent-girls-and-young-women (AGYW). DESIGN Cohorts of AGYW aged 13-22 years were randomly selected in 2017-2018 and followed-up to 2019; 1081 in Nairobi, Kenya;1171 in Gem, western Kenya;and 2184 in uMkhanyakude, South Africa. METHODS Outcomes were knowledge of HIV status, condomless sex (past 12 months), lifetime partners, transactional sex (past 12 months), and awareness and use of condoms and pre-exposure-prophylaxis (PrEP). Using a causal inference framework, we estimated the proportions with each outcome if all vs. none were DREAMS invitees by 2018. RESULTS Among AGYW followed up in 2019, the percentage invited to DREAMS by 2018 was 74, 57, and 53% in Nairobi, Gem, and uMkhanyakude, respectively. By 2018, the estimated percentages of AGYW who would know their HIV status, comparing the scenarios that all vs. none were DREAMS invitees, were 86 vs. 56% in Nairobi, 80 vs. 68% in Gem, and 56 vs. 49% in uMkhanyakude. By 2019, awareness of condoms and PrEP was high among DREAMS invitees, but recent participation in condom promotion activities was less than 50% and recent PrEP use was around 0-10%. In Gem, there was evidence of a reduction attributable to DREAMS in condomless sex, and among younger AGYW in the number of lifetime partners;in Nairobi evidence of a reduction in condomless sex among sexually active older AGYW;and in uMkhanya-kude no evidence that DREAMS changed these outcomes. CONCLUSION Alongside sustaining high levels of knowledge of HIV status, more is needed to link AGYW into prevention methods such as PrEP and condoms.Comprehensive HIV prevention promotes safer sexual partnerships, but poverty, social norms, and inequalities limit AGYW's prevention choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sian Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
| | - Sarah Mulwa
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
- Africa Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Faith Magut
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Annabelle Gourlay
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
| | | | - Vivienne Kamire
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Jane Osindo
- Africa Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Moses Otieno
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Abdhalah Ziraba
- Africa Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Daniel Kwaro
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
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Mthiyane N, Baisley K, Chimbindi N, Zuma T, Okesola N, Dreyer J, Herbst C, Smit T, Danaviah S, McGrath N, Harling G, Sherr L, Seeley J, Floyd S, Birdthistle I, Shahmanesh M. The association of exposure to DREAMS on sexually acquiring or transmitting HIV amongst adolescent girls and young women living in rural South Africa. AIDS 2022; 36:S39-S49. [PMID: 35766574 PMCID: PMC10700028 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigate how risk of sexually acquiring or transmitting HIV in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) changed following the real-world implementation of DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS free, Mentored and Safe) HIV prevention programme. DESIGN A representative population-based prospective cohort study of AGYW living in rural KwaZulu-Natal. METHODS Between 2017 and 2019, we interviewed a random sample of AGYW aged 13-22 years annually. We measured exposure to DREAMS as self-reported receipt of an invitation to participate and/or participation in DREAMS activities that were provided by DREAMS implementing organizations. HIV and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) statuses were ascertained through blood tests on Dried Blood Spot (DBS). We used multivariable regression analysis to assess the association between exposure to DREAMS and risk of acquiring HIV: measured as incident HSV-2 (a proxy of sexual risk) and incident HIV;and the risk of sexually transmitting HIV: measured as being HIV positive with a detectable HIV viral load (≥50 copie/ml) on the last available DBS. We adjusted for sociodemographic, sexual relationship, and migration. RESULTS Two thousand one hundred and eighty-four (86.4%) of those eligible agreed to participate and 2016 (92.3%) provided data for at least one follow-up time-point. One thousand and thirty (54%) were exposed to DREAMS;HIV and HSV-2 incidence were 2.2/100 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.66-2.86] and 17.3/100 person-years (95% CI 15.5-19.4), respectively. There was no evidence that HSV-2 and HIV incidence were lower in those exposed to DREAMS: adjusted rate ratio (aRR) 0.96 (95% CI 0.76-1.23 and 0.83 (95% CI 0.46-1.52), respectively. HIV viral load was detectable for 169 (8.9%) respondents;there was no evidence this was lower in those exposed to DREAMS with an adjusted risk difference, compared with those not exposed to DREAMS, of 0.99% (95% CI-1.52 to 3.82]. Participants who lived in peri-urban/ urban setting were more likely to have incident HIV and transmissible HIV. Both HSV-2 incidence and the transmissible HIV were associated with older age and ever having sex. Findings did not differ substantively by respondent age group. CONCLUSION DREAMS exposure was not associated with measurable reductions in risk of sexually acquiring or transmitting HIV amongst a representative cohort of AGYW in rural South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kathy Baisley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Natsayi Chimbindi
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Thembelihle Zuma
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Jaco Dreyer
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Carina Herbst
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Theresa Smit
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Siva Danaviah
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Nuala McGrath
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Guy Harling
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health & Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), University of the Witwatersrand, Gauteng, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology & Harvard Centre for Population and Development Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Lorraine Sherr
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sian Floyd
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Groves AK, Gebrekristos LT, Smith PD, Stoebenau K, Stoner MC, Ameyan W, Ezeh AC. Adolescent Mothers in Eastern and Southern Africa: An Overlooked and Uniquely Vulnerable Subpopulation in the Fight Against HIV. J Adolesc Health 2022; 70:895-901. [PMID: 35172930 PMCID: PMC9113251 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Adolescent girls (10-19 years) in Eastern and Southern Africa face a high risk of pregnancy and HIV infection. However, few studies have examined whether the profound developmental, social, and economic changes that accompany adolescent motherhood contribute to HIV risk. This study examines the intersection between adolescent motherhood and HIV infection across 10 Eastern and Southern African countries, where over half of all HIV infections occur among adolescent girls. METHODS To evaluate whether adolescent motherhood is associated with HIV infection, we used Demographic and Health Survey data on girls (15-19 years) with HIV test results (N = 19,932) from Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. We examined unweighted bivariate and multivariable associations between adolescent motherhood and HIV using mixed effects logistic regression models that included a country-level random intercept. We examined heterogeneity in the association by testing country-level random slopes using a likelihood ratio test and used intraclass correlation to measure the proportion of total variance explained at the country level. RESULTS Nearly one fifth of adolescent girls were mothers (range: 9.80%-38.90%), and the HIV prevalence among all adolescent girls was 3.3% (range: 1.03%-10.07%). Relative to nonmothers, adolescent mothers were, on average, older, poorer, and more likely to be married, rural dwellers, and household heads. Adolescent motherhood was positively associated with HIV infection in bivariate and multivariable analyses (odds ratio: 1.87; 95% confidence interval: 1.57-2.23; adjusted odds ratio: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.24-1.89). DISCUSSION Among adolescents with HIV test results, we observed a robust association between adolescent motherhood and HIV infection across 10 high-burden countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison K. Groves
- Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,Address correspondence to: Allison K. Groves, Ph.D., M.H.S., 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, 19104, USA.
| | | | - Patrick D. Smith
- Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kirsten Stoebenau
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Marie C. Stoner
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, California
| | - Wole Ameyan
- Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alex C. Ezeh
- Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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20
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Lunkuse JF, Kamacooko O, Muturi-Kioi V, Chinyenze K, Kuteesa MO, Price MA, Mayanja Y. Low awareness of oral and injectable PrEP among high-risk adolescent girls and young women in Kampala, Uganda. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:467. [PMID: 35578163 PMCID: PMC9109298 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07398-z] [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: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) account for a disproportionate number of new HIV infections worldwide. HIV prevalence among young sex workers in Uganda is 22.5%. Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical HIV prevention method, awareness of PrEP among AGYW in Uganda has not been studied systematically. We aimed to assess awareness of PrEP and factors associated with awareness of PrEP among AGYW who frequently reported paid sex. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study among 14-24-year old AGYW at high risk of HIV infection in Kampala, Uganda from January to October 2019. Participants were screened for PrEP eligibility using a national screening tool of whom 82.3% were eligible. Data on socio-demographics, behavioral and sexual risks were collected by interview. Awareness of oral or injectable PrEP, the latter of which is currently in late-stage trials, was defined as whether an individual had heard about PrEP as an HIV prevention method. Multivariable robust poisson regression model was used to assess factors associated with oral PrEP awareness. RESULTS We enrolled 285 participants of whom 39.3% were under 20 years old, 54.7% had completed secondary education, 68.8% had multiple sex partners in the past 3 months, 8.8% were screened as high risk drinkers'/ alcohol dependent (AUDIT tool) and 21.0% reported sex work as main occupation. Only 23.2% were aware of oral PrEP and 3.9% had heard about injectable PrEP. The prevalence of oral PrEP awareness was significantly higher among volunteers screened as alcohol dependents (aPR 1.89, 95% CI 1.08-3.29) and those with multiple sexual partners (aPR 1.84, 95% CI 1.01-3.35), but was lower among those who reported consistent condom use with recent sexual partners (aPR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37-0.91). CONCLUSIONS Majority of AGYW were not aware of any kind of PrEP. Those with higher risk behavior, i.e. alcohol dependents or multiple sexual partners, were more aware of oral PrEP. Interventions to increase awareness among female youth are needed. Improving PrEP awareness is critical to increasing PrEP uptake among high-risk AGYW in Uganda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Frances Lunkuse
- grid.415861.f0000 0004 1790 6116Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, 256 Uganda
| | - Onesmus Kamacooko
- grid.415861.f0000 0004 1790 6116Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, 256 Uganda
| | | | | | | | - Matt A. Price
- grid.420368.b0000 0000 9939 9066IAVI, 125 Broad St, New York, NY 10004 USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Yunia Mayanja
- grid.415861.f0000 0004 1790 6116Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, 256 Uganda
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21
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Naidoo I, Takatshana S, Sewpaul R, Jooste S, Siyanai Z, Maseko G, Moyo S, Zuma K, Mabaso M, Nompumelelo Z. Past and current status of adolescents living with HIV in South Africa, 2005-2017. BMC Res Notes 2022; 15:132. [PMID: 35397603 PMCID: PMC8994368 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-022-06006-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper reports HIV prevalence, incidence, progress towards the UNAIDS (90-90-90) targets, and HIV drug resistance among adolescents living with HIV in South Africa. We conducted secondary analyses using data extracted from the South African national HIV prevalence surveys (2005-2017). Analyses were stratified by sex and age (10-14 and 15-19-years), presenting weighted descriptive statistics, and realised totals. RESULTS HIV prevalence increased from 3.0% in 2012 to 3.7% in 2017, translating to 360 582 (95% CI 302 021-419 144) HIV positive adolescents in 2017. Female adolescents bear a disproportionate HIV burden of 5.6% prevalence versus 0.7% for males. HIV incidence remained relatively stable. For the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, approximately 62.3% of adolescents knew their HIV status, 65.4% of whom were on antiretroviral therapy, and of these 78.1% on antiretroviral therapy had attained viral load suppression. There are knowledge gaps pertaining to the magnitude of perinatal infections and postnatal infections, and socio-behavioural risk factors for HIV transmission among adolescents in South Africa. There is still a need for focussed interventions targeting adolescent (1) gender disparities in HIV risk (2) screening for HIV, (3) sustained access and adherence to antiretroviral therapy and (3) retention in care to maintain viral load suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbarani Naidoo
- Centre for Community Based Research, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Sinovuyo Takatshana
- Health and Well-Being, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ronel Sewpaul
- Health and Well-Being, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sean Jooste
- Health and Well-Being, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Zhou Siyanai
- AIDS and Society Research Unit, Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Goitseone Maseko
- Health and Well-Being, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Sizulu Moyo
- Health and Well-Being, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Khangelani Zuma
- Health and Well-Being, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Musawenkosi Mabaso
- Health and Well-Being, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa
| | - Zungu Nompumelelo
- Health and Well-Being, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Abstract
Gender is an important determinant of health, but explicit attention to gender is often missing in health promotion. We build on Pederson and colleagues' gender-transformative framework for health promotion to propose four guiding principles for gender-transformative health promotion. First, health promotion must address gender norms directly if it is to improve health outcomes. Second, it should move beyond individual change to engage explicitly with structural and social determinants of health. Third, it should address underlying gender-related determinants in order to influence health outcomes. And fourth, it requires complexity-informed design, implementation, and evaluation. We provide background on key concepts that are essential for designing, implementing, and evaluating gender-transformative health promotion: gender norms, socioecological approaches, and the gender system. We give examples of the four principles in practice, using the case of postnatal mental health promotion in Australia and sexuality education in Mexico. These four principles can be applied to health promotion efforts across contexts and outcomes to address the harmful gender norms that contribute to poor health as a part of broader efforts to improve health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Fisher
- Global and Women's Health Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; ,
| | - Shelly Makleff
- Global and Women's Health Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; ,
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23
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Gourlay A, Floyd S, Magut F, Mulwa S, Mthiyane N, Wambiya E, Otieno M, Kamire V, Osindo J, Chimbindi N, Ziraba A, Kwaro D, Shahmanesh M, Birdthistle I. Impact of the DREAMS Partnership on social support and general self-efficacy among adolescent girls and young women: causal analysis of population-based cohorts in Kenya and South Africa. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2021-006965. [PMID: 35232812 PMCID: PMC8889325 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) Partnership aimed to influence psychosocial processes that promote empowerment among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and reduce HIV incidence. We estimated the impact of DREAMS on aspects of AGYW's collective and individual agency (specifically, social support and self-efficacy), in three settings where DREAMS was implemented from 2016 until at least end 2018. METHODS Research cohorts of ~1500 AGYW aged 13-22 were randomly selected from demographic platforms in Kenya (Nairobi; Gem) and South Africa (uMkhanyakude) and followed up from 2017 to 2019. Social support was based on questions about female networks and access to safe places to meet with peers; general self-efficacy was measured using a scale previously validated in other settings. We conducted multivariable logistic regression, and estimated the causal effect of invitation to DREAMS on each outcome in 2018 and 2019 by comparing counter-factual scenarios in which all, vs no, AGYW were DREAMS invitees. RESULTS In Nairobi, Gem and uMkhanyakude, respectively, 74%, 57% and 53% were invited to DREAMS by 2018. Social support was higher among DREAMS invitees versus non-invitees (eg, adjusted OR 2.0 (95% CI 1.6 to 2.6), Gem, 2018). In 2018, DREAMS increased social support in all settings and age groups, for example, from 28% if none were DREAMS invitees to 43% if all were invitees (+15% (95% CI 10% to 20%)) in Gem. Effects were strongest in Kenya, but weakened in 2019, particularly among older AGYW. In uMkhanyakude, DREAMS invitees had greater self-efficacy compared with non-invitees in 2018 (+9% (95% CI 3% to 13%), 2018) but less so in 2019. In Kenyan settings, there was weak evidence for impact on self-efficacy among younger AGYW in Gem (+6% (95% CI 0% to 13%)) and older AGYW in Nairobi (+9% (95% CI -3% to +20%)) in 2019. CONCLUSIONS DREAMS impacted on social support and, less consistently, on self-efficacy. Weakening effects over time may reflect changes in access to safe spaces and social networks as AGYW age and change circumstances, and withdrawal of DREAMS from uMkhanyakude in 2018, highlighting the importance of programme sustainability and improving programming for older participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Gourlay
- Faculty of Epidemiology of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sian Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Faith Magut
- Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Sarah Mulwa
- Faculty of Epidemiology of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Health and Systems for Health, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nondumiso Mthiyane
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.,Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Elvis Wambiya
- Health and Systems for Health, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Moses Otieno
- Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Vivienne Kamire
- Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Jane Osindo
- Health and Systems for Health, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Natsayi Chimbindi
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.,Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Abdhalah Ziraba
- Health and Systems for Health, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Daniel Kwaro
- Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.,Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Estimation of HIV incidence from analysis of HIV prevalence patterns by age and years since starting sex work among female sex workers in Zimbabwe. AIDS 2022; 36:1141-1150. [PMID: 35170527 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate HIV incidence among female sex workers (FSW) in Zimbabwe: using HIV prevalence by age and number of years since started selling sex (YSSS). DESIGN We pooled data from FSW aged 18-39 participating in respondent-driven sampling surveys conducted in Zimbabwe between 2011-2017. METHODS For each year of age, we estimated: HIV prevalence (Pt) and the change in HIV prevalence from the previous age (Pt-Pt-1). We then estimated the rate of new HIV infections during that year of age: It = Pt-Pt-1/(1-Pt-1), and calculated HIV incidence for 18-24 and 25-39 year-olds separately as the weighted average of It. We estimated HIV incidence for FSW 1-5 years and 6-15 years since first selling sex using the same approach, and compared HIV prevalence among FSW first selling sex at their current age with the general population. RESULTS Among 9,906 women, 50.2% were HIV positive. Based on HIV prevalence increases by age, we estimated an HIV incidence of 6.3/100 person-years at risk (pyar) (95%CI 5.3,7.6) among 18-24 year-olds, and 3.3/100 pyar (95% CI 1.3,4.2) among 25-39 year-olds. Based on prevalence increases by YSSS, HIV incidence was 5.3/100 pyar (95% CI 4.3,8.5) between 1-5 years since first selling sex, and 2.1/100 pyar (95% CI -1.3, 7.2) between 6-15 years. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis is consistent with very high HIV incidence among FSW in Zimbabwe, especially among those who are young and recently started selling sex. There is a critical need to engage young entrants into sex work in interventions that reduce their HIV risk.
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Chimbindi N, Mthiyane N, Zuma T, Baisley K, Pillay D, McGrath N, Harling G, Sherr L, Birdthistle I, Floyd S, Dreyer J, Nakasone S, Seeley J, Shahmanesh M. Antiretroviral therapy based HIV prevention targeting young women who sell sex: a mixed method approach to understand the implementation of PrEP in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. AIDS Care 2022; 34:232-240. [PMID: 33769156 PMCID: PMC8464632 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1902933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a potential game-changer for HIV. We used PrEP introduction for Young Women Who Sell Sex (YWSS) in a rural South Africa district to understand community norms and PrEP coverage in YWSS. Between 2017 and 2018, we measured awareness and uptake of PrEP in a representative cohort of 2184 Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) aged 13-22. We conducted group discussions with young people and community members (19); key informant interviews (9), in-depth interviews with 15-24 year-olds (58) and providers (33). Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. PrEP awareness increased from 2% to 9%. Among 965 AGYW sexually-active by 2018, 13.4% (95%CI: 11.4%-15.7%) reported transactional sex and 10.6% (95%CI: 8.85-12.7%) sex for money. Of the 194 YWSS, 21 were aware of PrEP, but none had used it. Youth were enthusiastic about PrEP as tool for HIV prevention; whilst older community members were cautious about a technology they had limited experience with but could benefit select groups. Teachers and healthcare providers were concerned that PrEP would lower personal responsibility for sexual health. In conclusion, the narrow and limited introduction of PrEP to YWSS reduced the accessibility and reach. Introducing PrEP as part of sexual healthcare may improve demand and access for YWSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsayi Chimbindi
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,,University College London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Thembelihle Zuma
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Kathy Baisley
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,,London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
| | - Deenan Pillay
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,,University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Nuala McGrath
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,,University of Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Guy Harling
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,,University College London, United Kingdom,Harvard University, United States of America,University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | | | | | - Sian Floyd
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
| | - Jaco Dreyer
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,,London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,,University College London, United Kingdom,Corresponding author: Maryam Shahmanesh, University College London (UCL) Institute for Global Health, Mortimer Market Centre off Capper Street, London, WC1E 6JB, United Kingdom. Phone number: +44 7776185572
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Ledesma JR, Ma J, Vongpradith A, Maddison ER, Novotney A, Biehl MH, LeGrand KE, Ross JM, Jahagirdar D, Bryazka D, Feldman R, Abolhassani H, Abosetugn AE, Abu-Gharbieh E, Adebayo OM, Adnani QES, Afzal S, Ahinkorah BO, Ahmad SA, Ahmadi S, Ahmed Rashid T, Ahmed Salih Y, Aklilu A, Akunna CJ, Al Hamad H, Alahdab F, Alemayehu Y, Alene KA, Ali BA, Ali L, Alipour V, Alizade H, Al-Raddadi RM, Alvis-Guzman N, Amini S, Amit AML, Anderson JA, Androudi S, Antonio CAT, Antony CM, Anwer R, Arabloo J, Arja A, Asemahagn MA, Atre SR, Azhar GS, B DB, Babar ZUD, Baig AA, Banach M, Barqawi HJ, Barra F, Barrow A, Basu S, Belgaumi UI, Bhagavathula AS, Bhardwaj N, Bhardwaj P, Bhattacharjee NV, Bhattacharyya K, Bijani A, Bikbov B, Boloor A, Briko NI, Buonsenso D, Burugina Nagaraja S, Butt ZA, Carter A, Carvalho F, Charan J, Chatterjee S, Chattu SK, Chattu VK, Christopher DJ, Chu DT, Claassens MM, Dadras O, Dagnew AB, Dai X, Dandona L, Dandona R, Daneshpajouhnejad P, Darwesh AM, Dhamnetiya D, Dianatinasab M, Diaz D, Doan LP, Eftekharzadeh S, Elhadi M, Emami A, Enany S, Faraon EJA, Farzadfar F, Fernandes E, Ferro Desideri L, Filip I, Fischer F, Foroutan M, Frank TD, Garcia-Basteiro AL, Garcia-Calavaro C, Garg T, Geberemariyam BS, Ghadiri K, Ghashghaee A, Golechha M, Goodridge A, Gupta B, Gupta S, Gupta VB, Gupta VK, Haider MR, Hamidi S, Hanif A, Haque S, Harapan H, Hargono A, Hasaballah AI, Hashi A, Hassan S, Hassankhani H, Hayat K, Hezam K, Holla R, Hosseinzadeh M, Hostiuc M, Househ M, Hussain R, Ibitoye SE, Ilic IM, Ilic MD, Irvani SSN, Ismail NE, Itumalla R, Jaafari J, Jacobsen KH, Jain V, Javanmardi F, Jayapal SK, Jayaram S, Jha RP, Jonas JB, Joseph N, Joukar F, Kabir Z, Kamath A, Kanchan T, Kandel H, Katoto PDMC, Kayode GA, Kendrick PJ, Kerbo AA, Khajuria H, Khalilov R, Khatab K, Khoja AT, Khubchandani J, Kim MS, Kim YJ, Kisa A, Kisa S, Kosen S, Koul PA, Koulmane Laxminarayana SL, Koyanagi A, Krishan K, Kucuk Bicer B, Kumar A, Kumar GA, Kumar N, Kumar N, Kwarteng A, Lak HM, Lal DK, Landires I, Lasrado S, Lee SWH, Lee WC, Lin C, Liu X, Lopukhov PD, Lozano R, Machado DB, Madhava Kunjathur S, Madi D, Mahajan PB, Majeed A, Malik AA, Martins-Melo FR, Mehta S, Memish ZA, Mendoza W, Menezes RG, Merie HE, Mersha AG, Mesregah MK, Mestrovic T, Mheidly NM, Misra S, Mithra P, Moghadaszadeh M, Mohammadi M, Mohammadian-Hafshejani A, Mohammed S, Molokhia M, Moni MA, Montasir AA, Moore CE, Nagarajan AJ, Nair S, Nair S, Naqvi AA, Narasimha Swamy S, Nayak BP, Nazari J, Neupane Kandel S, Nguyen TH, Nixon MR, Nnaji CA, Ntsekhe M, Nuñez-Samudio V, Oancea B, Odukoya OO, Olagunju AT, Oren E, P A M, Parthasarathi R, Pashazadeh Kan F, Pattanshetty SM, Paudel R, Paul P, Pawar S, Pepito VCF, Perico N, Pirestani M, Polibin RV, Postma MJ, Pourshams A, Prashant A, Pribadi DRA, Radfar A, Rafiei A, Rahim F, Rahimi-Movaghar V, Rahman M, Rahman M, Rahmani AM, Ranasinghe P, Rao CR, Rawaf DL, Rawaf S, Reitsma MB, Remuzzi G, Renzaho AMN, Reta MA, Rezaei N, Rezahosseini O, Rezai MS, Rezapour A, Roshandel G, Roshchin DO, Sabour S, Saif-Ur-Rahman KM, Salam N, Samadi Kafil H, Samaei M, Samy AM, Saroshe S, Sartorius B, Sathian B, Sawyer SM, Senthilkumaran S, Seylani A, Shafaat O, Shaikh MA, Sharafi K, Shetty RS, Shigematsu M, Shin JI, Silva JP, Singh JK, Sinha S, Skryabin VY, Skryabina AA, Spurlock EE, Sreeramareddy CT, Steiropoulos P, Sufiyan MB, Tabuchi T, Tadesse EG, Tamir Z, Tarkang EE, Tekalegn Y, Tesfay FH, Tessema B, Thapar R, Tleyjeh II, Tobe-Gai R, Tran BX, Tsegaye B, Tsegaye GW, Ullah A, Umeokonkwo CD, Valadan Tahbaz S, Vo B, Vu GT, Waheed Y, Walters MK, Whisnant JL, Woldekidan MA, Wubishet BL, Yahyazadeh Jabbari SH, Yazie TSY, Yeshaw Y, Yi S, Yiğit V, Yonemoto N, Yu C, Yunusa I, Zastrozhin MS, Zastrozhina A, Zhang ZJ, Zumla A, Mokdad AH, Salomon JA, Reiner Jr RC, Lim SS, Naghavi M, Vos T, Hay SI, Murray CJL, Kyu HH. Global, regional, and national sex differences in the global burden of tuberculosis by HIV status, 1990-2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 22:222-241. [PMID: 34563275 PMCID: PMC8799634 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00449-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis is a major contributor to the global burden of disease, causing more than a million deaths annually. Given an emphasis on equity in access to diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in global health targets, evaluations of differences in tuberculosis burden by sex are crucial. We aimed to assess the levels and trends of the global burden of tuberculosis, with an emphasis on investigating differences in sex by HIV status for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. METHODS We used a Bayesian hierarchical Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) platform to analyse 21 505 site-years of vital registration data, 705 site-years of verbal autopsy data, 825 site-years of sample-based vital registration data, and 680 site-years of mortality surveillance data to estimate mortality due to tuberculosis among HIV-negative individuals. We used a population attributable fraction approach to estimate mortality related to HIV and tuberculosis coinfection. A compartmental meta-regression tool (DisMod-MR 2.1) was then used to synthesise all available data sources, including prevalence surveys, annual case notifications, population-based tuberculin surveys, and tuberculosis cause-specific mortality, to produce estimates of incidence, prevalence, and mortality that were internally consistent. We further estimated the fraction of tuberculosis mortality that is attributable to independent effects of risk factors, including smoking, alcohol use, and diabetes, for HIV-negative individuals. For individuals with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection, we assessed mortality attributable to HIV risk factors including unsafe sex, intimate partner violence (only estimated among females), and injection drug use. We present 95% uncertainty intervals for all estimates. FINDINGS Globally, in 2019, among HIV-negative individuals, there were 1·18 million (95% uncertainty interval 1·08-1·29) deaths due to tuberculosis and 8·50 million (7·45-9·73) incident cases of tuberculosis. Among HIV-positive individuals, there were 217 000 (153 000-279 000) deaths due to tuberculosis and 1·15 million (1·01-1·32) incident cases in 2019. More deaths and incident cases occurred in males than in females among HIV-negative individuals globally in 2019, with 342 000 (234 000-425 000) more deaths and 1·01 million (0·82-1·23) more incident cases in males than in females. Among HIV-positive individuals, 6250 (1820-11 400) more deaths and 81 100 (63 300-100 000) more incident cases occurred among females than among males in 2019. Age-standardised mortality rates among HIV-negative males were more than two times greater in 105 countries and age-standardised incidence rates were more than 1·5 times greater in 74 countries than among HIV-negative females in 2019. The fraction of global tuberculosis deaths among HIV-negative individuals attributable to alcohol use, smoking, and diabetes was 4·27 (3·69-5·02), 6·17 (5·48-7·02), and 1·17 (1·07-1·28) times higher, respectively, among males than among females in 2019. Among individuals with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection, the fraction of mortality attributable to injection drug use was 2·23 (2·03-2·44) times greater among males than females, whereas the fraction due to unsafe sex was 1·06 (1·05-1·08) times greater among females than males. INTERPRETATION As countries refine national tuberculosis programmes and strategies to end the tuberculosis epidemic, the excess burden experienced by males is important. Interventions are needed to actively communicate, especially to men, the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. These interventions should occur in parallel with efforts to minimise excess HIV burden among women in the highest HIV burden countries that are contributing to excess HIV and tuberculosis coinfection burden for females. Placing a focus on tuberculosis burden among HIV-negative males and HIV and tuberculosis coinfection among females might help to diminish the overall burden of tuberculosis. This strategy will be crucial in reaching both equity and burden targets outlined by global health milestones. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Maina BW, Sikweyiya Y, Ferguson L, Kabiru CW. Conceptualisations of masculinity and sexual development among boys and young men in Korogocho slum in Kenya. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2022; 24:226-240. [PMID: 33289439 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2020.1829058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Youth and adolescence are times when young men negotiate their identity in relation to social and cultural expectations of being a man, with enduring implications for sexual health and wellbeing. This study explored how boys aged 10-14 years living in Korogocho slum in Nairobi, Kenya conceptualised masculinity, their perceptions of how masculinities are performed, and the linkage between conceptualisations of masculinity and sexual development. Three bases of gender socialisation were identified: (1) verbal messaging (mainly from parents and teachers); (2) observing the behaviours of older men in the community; and (3) information received from mainstream and social media. Masculinity conceptualisations focussed on financial stability, family life and responsibility, physical attributes, character and religion. Two contrasting portrayals of masculinity emerged in the form of idealised and dominant masculinities. A close linkage was found between masculinity conceptualisations and sexual development. Findings are important for programmes that aim to transform harmful gender norms and signal the need for longitudinal research exploring how gender beliefs may change over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice W Maina
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Population Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit, African Population and Health Research Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Yandisa Sikweyiya
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Gender and Health Research Unit, South Africa Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Laura Ferguson
- Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Caroline W Kabiru
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Population Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit, African Population and Health Research Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
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28
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Kumar M, Chu W, Gellatly R, Wambua GN, Becker KD, Chorpita BF. Identified needs of peripartum adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2013 to 2021: a mapping of domains for strengthening psychosocial interventions. Curr Opin Psychol 2021; 45:101291. [PMID: 35016086 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.003] [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: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent pregnancy and early motherhood pose significant socioeconomic and health risks in Sub-Saharan Africa, leading to considerable morbidity and mortality. To learn more about the needs of this population, we reviewed 24 articles featuring 21 samples covering 12,490 adolescents from 14 countries. Our coding revealed that adolescent mothers were studied more (85.7% of samples) than pregnant adolescents (61.9%). We summarized needs as per six categories. Resource needs were most prevalent, reported by 100% of samples, followed by ecology (85.7%), mental health (76.2%), medical (61.9%), other (61.9%), and education (33.3%). The most frequently reported resource needs were low income and unemployment. Low social support, low family functioning, and exposure to negative cultural norms were ecological needs prevalent in most samples. Among mental health concerns, depression was the most commonly reported problem, whereas other problems, such as anxiety, substance use, and suicidality, were reported much less frequently. HIV-positive status was the most frequently reported medical concern. Intervention developers should consider the range of challenges when designing psychosocial services for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manasi Kumar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Wendy Chu
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Resham Gellatly
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Grace Nduku Wambua
- Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands
| | | | - Bruce F Chorpita
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
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Shangase N, Kharsany ABM, Ntombela NP, Pettifor A, McKinnon LR. A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials of School Based Interventions on Sexual Risk Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS Behav 2021; 25:3669-3686. [PMID: 33772695 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03242-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Young adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are at high risk of involvement in sexual risk behaviors; and curable sexually transmitted infections (STI), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and unintended pregnancies remain persistently high in this population. Evidence based strategies are urgently needed to improve these outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) to determine whether school-based interventions promote safe sex behaviors, reduce sexual risk behaviors and risk of curable STIs, HSV-2, HIV and unintended pregnancies among young adolescents aged 9-19 years in SSA. Electronic databases were searched for published studies and manual searches were conducted through reviewing of references of cited literature in the English language up to December 2019. Two independent reviewers screened and abstracted the data. We identified 428 articles and data from nine RCTs (N = 14,426 secondary school students) that fulfilled the selection criteria were analysed. Two studies measured pregnancy as an outcome and showed significant declines in unintended pregnancies. Of the five studies that measured HIV/AIDS related-knowledge, condom-use outcomes (normative beliefs, knowledge, and self-efficacy) and attitudes to HIV testing, four showed significant improvements. Of the six studies that measured sexual debut, four reported moderate but non-significant declines and in two studies sexual debut information was either incomplete or unreliable. One study measured curable STIs and found no significant declines; whilst the second study that measured HSV-2 and HIV, no significant declines were observed. This review highlights the need to undertake well-designed research studies to provide evidence on the impact of interventions on curable STIs, HSV-2 and HIV, critical to improving the health of young adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nosipho Shangase
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2106 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB# 7435, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7435, USA
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 2nd Floor, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella, Durban, 4013, South Africa
| | - Ayesha B M Kharsany
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 2nd Floor, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella, Durban, 4013, South Africa.
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Nonzwakazi P Ntombela
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 2nd Floor, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella, Durban, 4013, South Africa
| | - Audrey Pettifor
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 2nd Floor, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella, Durban, 4013, South Africa
| | - Lyle R McKinnon
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 2nd Floor, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella, Durban, 4013, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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Stoner MCD, Edwards JK, Westreich D, Kilburn K, Ahern J, Lippman SA, Gómez-Olivé FX, Kahn K, Pettifor A. Modeling Cash Plus Other Psychosocial and Structural Interventions to Prevent HIV Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa (HPTN 068). AIDS Behav 2021; 25:133-143. [PMID: 33475905 PMCID: PMC8292433 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03158-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Poverty alleviation programs can reduce HIV incidence but may have greater impacts when combined with other psychosocial interventions. We modeled the change in HIV incidence among South African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) associated with combining a cash transfer (the South African Child Support Grant (CSG)) with other structural and behavioral interventions. We modeled observational data from the HPTN 068 study where 2328 HIV negative AGYW (13–20 years) were followed for 4 years. In a Monte Carlo simulation based on this cohort (N = 10,000), CSG receipt was not independently associated with HIV incidence. Providing the CSG combined with increasing caregiver care and reducing adolescent depression had the largest reduction in HIV incidence with the fewest number of combined interventions (RD − 3.0%; (95% CI − 5.1%, − 0.9%). Combining a monthly grant with interventions to increase caregiver care and reduce adolescent depression could substantially reduce HIV incidence above the provision of cash alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie C D Stoner
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Jessie K Edwards
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Westreich
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NY, USA
| | - Kelly Kilburn
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer Ahern
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Sheri A Lippman
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - F Xavier Gómez-Olivé
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kathleen Kahn
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana
- Epidemiology and Global Health Unit, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Audrey Pettifor
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NY, USA
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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31
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Stoner MCD, Kilburn K, Godfrey-Faussett P, Ghys P, Pettifor AE. Cash transfers for HIV prevention: A systematic review. PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003866. [PMID: 34843468 PMCID: PMC8668130 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the success of cash programs in improving health outcomes and addressing upstream drivers of HIV risk such as poverty and education, there has been an increasing interest in their potential to improve HIV prevention and care outcomes. Recent reviews have documented the impacts of structural interventions on HIV prevention, but evidence about the effects of cash transfer programs on HIV prevention has not been systematically reviewed for several years. METHODS AND FINDINGS We did a systematic review of published and unpublished literature to update and summarize the evidence around cash programs for HIV prevention from January 2000 to December 17, 2020. We included studies with either a cash transfer intervention, savings program, or program to reduce school costs. Included studies measured the program's impact on HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or sexual behaviors. We screened 1,565 studies and examined 78 in full-text review to identify a total of 45 peer-reviewed publications and reports from 27 different interventions or populations. We did not do a meta-analysis given the range of outcomes and types of cash transfer interventions assessed. Most studies were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa (N = 23; South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi, Lesotho, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and eSwatini) followed by Mexico (N = 2), the United States (N = 1), and Mongolia (N = 1)). Of the 27 studies, 20 (72%) were randomized trials, 5 (20%) were observational studies, 1 (4%) was a case-control study, and 1 (4%) was quasi-experimental. Most studies did not identify a strong association between the program and sexual behaviors, except sexual debut (10/18 finding an association; 56%). Eight of the 27 studies included HIV biomarkers, but only 3 found a large reduction in HIV incidence or prevalence, and the rest found no statistically significant association. Of the studies that identified a statistically significant association with other STIs (N = 4/8), 2 involved incentives for staying free of the STI, and the other 2 were cash transfer programs for adolescent girls that had conditionalities related to secondary schooling. Study limitations include the small number of studies in key populations and examining interventions to reduce school costs and matched saving programs. CONCLUSIONS The evidence base for large-scale impacts of cash transfers reducing HIV risk is limited; however, government social protection cash transfer programs and programs that incentivize school attendance among adolescent girls and young women show the greatest promise for HIV prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie C. D. Stoner
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Women’s Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kelly Kilburn
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | | | | | - Audrey E. Pettifor
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
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Lanham M, Ridgeway K, Mireku M, Nhamo D, Pillay D, Murire M, Stankevitz K, Kyongo J, Mullick S. Health care providers' attitudes toward and experiences delivering oral PrEP to adolescent girls and young women in Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:1112. [PMID: 34663320 PMCID: PMC8522219 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06978-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is recommended for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) at high risk of HIV. Health providers play a critical role in the uptake and effective use of sexual and reproductive health services; however, few published studies have explored providers’ attitudes toward and experiences delivering PrEP to AGYW. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study, interviewing 113 providers at 36 public, private, and nongovernmental health facilities in Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe that were offering PrEP during the research period or were likely to offer PrEP in the future. Data were coded in NVivo 11, and an applied thematic analysis was conducted. Results Most providers preferred that adolescent girls wait until age 18 to have sex but acknowledged that many girls younger than 18 could benefit from oral PrEP. Their primary concern was whether adolescent girls would be able to take PrEP daily, especially if they do not tell their parents or partners they are using it. Providers reported that it was more challenging to deliver PrEP and other HIV services to girls younger than 18. Those with experience providing PrEP pointed to stigma and lack of PrEP awareness in communities as two primary barriers to PrEP uptake and use. Conclusions Providers were generally accepting of oral PrEP as an HIV prevention option for AGYW; however, many had negative attitudes about adolescent girls being sexually active and concerns about whether they could take PrEP daily. Results were used to update national PrEP training materials to address negative provider attitudes about PrEP use by AGYW. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-06978-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Lanham
- FHI 360, 359 Blackwell Street, Suite 201, NC, 27707, Durham, USA.
| | | | - Maryline Mireku
- LVCT Health, P.O. Box 19835-00202 KNH, Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Definate Nhamo
- Pangaea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust, 27 Rowland Square, Milton Park, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Diantha Pillay
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, 31 Princess of Wales Terrace, 2193, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mercy Murire
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, 31 Princess of Wales Terrace, 2193, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kayla Stankevitz
- FHI 360, 359 Blackwell Street, Suite 201, NC, 27707, Durham, USA
| | - Jordan Kyongo
- LVCT Health, P.O. Box 19835-00202 KNH, Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Saiqa Mullick
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, 31 Princess of Wales Terrace, 2193, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Orindi BO, Ziraba A, Bruyneel L, Floyd S, Lesaffre E. Invariance of the WHO violence against women instrument among Kenyan adolescent girls and young women: Bayesian psychometric modeling. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258651. [PMID: 34653232 PMCID: PMC8519454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To make valid comparisons across groups, a measurement instrument needs to be measurement invariant across those groups. The present study evaluates measurement invariance for experience of violence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in two informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. METHODS We used survey data collected from 1,081 AGYW aged 15-22 years from two Nairobi's informal settlements of Korogocho (n = 617) and Viwandani (n = 464) in 2017 through DREAMS (an initiative aimed at reducing HIV incidence among AGYW with a core package of evidence-based interventions) impact evaluation project. Experience of violence was measured using the 15-item WHO's violence against women instrument, and factorial (non)invariance assessed within exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) framework. Cross-group measurement invariance was assessed using Bayesian Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model across site, age groups, self-reported invitation to participate in DREAMS, marital status, currently in school, education level, religion, ethnic groups, ever had sex, slept hungry at night past 4 weeks, and wealth index. RESULTS The mean and median ages of the AGYW were 17.9 years and 17 years, respectively. About 59% reported having had sex and 58% of AGYW were in school. The percentage reporting each act of violence varied from 1.6% ("attacked you with a weapon") to 26.5% ("insult you or make you feel bad about yourself"). About 44% (n = 474) of participants experienced ≥1 acts of violence, and 2.7% (n = 29) experienced at least half of the 15 acts. The structure underlying the 15 items was configurally similar to that proposed by WHO, with three factors reflecting either psychological, physical, or sexual violence. Noninvariance was detected for five items-spread across the three domains. Three of five items showed noninvariance only for sleeping hungry at night in the past 4 weeks. As the majority of items did not show evidence of noninvariance, differences in latent mean scores likely reflect actual differences and may not be attributable to measurement artifacts. CONCLUSIONS Using state-of-the-art statistical techniques on a widely used instrument for measuring exposure to violence among women, this study provides support for the subscales of psychological, physical and sexual violence in a Kenyan AGYW population. The instrument supports comparisons across groups within this population. This is crucial when comparing violence against girls/women prevalence rates and to understand challenges and exchange strategies to reduce abuse or violence experienced by AGYW, or women in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedict O. Orindi
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Abdhalah Ziraba
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Luk Bruyneel
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sian Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emmanuel Lesaffre
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Birdthistle I, Kwaro D, Shahmanesh M, Baisley K, Khagayi S, Chimbindi N, Kamire V, Mthiyane N, Gourlay A, Dreyer J, Phillips-Howard P, Glynn J, Floyd S. Evaluating the impact of DREAMS on HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women: A population-based cohort study in Kenya and South Africa. PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003837. [PMID: 34695112 PMCID: PMC8880902 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Through a multisectoral approach, the DREAMS Partnership aimed to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) by 40% over 2 years in high-burden districts across sub-Saharan Africa. DREAMS promotes a combination package of evidence-based interventions to reduce individual, family, partner, and community-based drivers of young women's heightened HIV risk. We evaluated the impact of DREAMS on HIV incidence among AGYW and young men in 2 settings. METHODS AND FINDINGS We directly estimated HIV incidence rates among open population-based cohorts participating in demographic and HIV serological surveys from 2006 to 2018 annually in uMkhanyakude (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) and over 6 rounds from 2010 to 2019 in Gem (Siaya, Kenya). We compared HIV incidence among AGYW aged 15 to 24 years before DREAMS and up to 3 years after DREAMS implementation began in 2016. We investigated the timing of any change in HIV incidence and whether the rate of any change accelerated during DREAMS implementation. Comparable analyses were also conducted for young men (20 to 29/34 years). In uMkhanyakude, between 5,000 and 6,000 AGYW were eligible for the serological survey each year, an average of 85% were contacted, and consent rates varied from 37% to 67%. During 26,395 person-years (py), HIV incidence was lower during DREAMS implementation (2016 to 2018) than in the previous 5-year period among 15- to 19-year-old females (4.5 new infections per 100 py as compared with 2.8; age-adjusted rate ratio (aRR) = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48 to 0.82), and lower among 20- to 24-year-olds (7.1/100 py as compared with 5.8; aRR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.04). Declines preceded DREAMS introduction, beginning from 2012 to 2013 among the younger and 2014 for the older women, with no evidence of more rapid decline during DREAMS implementation. In Gem, between 8,515 and 11,428 AGYW were eligible each survey round, an average of 34% were contacted and offered an HIV test, and consent rates ranged from 84% to 99%. During 10,382 py, declines in HIV incidence among 15- to 19-year-olds began before DREAMS and did not change after DREAMS introduction. Among 20- to 24-year-olds in Gem, HIV incidence estimates were lower during DREAMS implementation (0.64/100 py) compared with the pre-DREAMS period (0.94/100 py), with no statistical evidence of a decline (aRR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.53 to 2.18). Among young men, declines in HIV incidence were greater than those observed among AGYW and also began prior to DREAMS investments. Study limitations include low study power in Kenya and the introduction of other interventions such as universal treatment for HIV during the study period. CONCLUSIONS Substantial declines in HIV incidence among AGYW were observed, but most began before DREAMS introduction and did not accelerate in the first 3 years of DREAMS implementation. Like the declines observed among young men, they are likely driven by earlier and ongoing investments in HIV testing and treatment. Longer-term implementation and evaluation are needed to assess the impact of such a complex HIV prevention intervention and to help accelerate reductions in HIV incidence among young women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isolde Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Daniel Kwaro
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kathy Baisley
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Sammy Khagayi
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Natsayi Chimbindi
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Vivienne Kamire
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Nondumiso Mthiyane
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Annabelle Gourlay
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jaco Dreyer
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Penelope Phillips-Howard
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Judith Glynn
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sian Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Factors Associated with HIV Status Among Vulnerable Women in Northern Uganda: Baseline Results from Pe Atye Kena Cohort Study. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2021; 13:e2021055. [PMID: 34527207 PMCID: PMC8425349 DOI: 10.4084/mjhid.2021.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives HIV infection among vulnerable women (VW) has been attributed to unfavourable power relations and limited access to sexual and reproductive health information and services. This work aims to report sexually-transmitted infections (STI) prevalence and assess the impact of HIV awareness, demographic and socio-behavioural factors on HIV status in a rural area of northern Uganda. Methods Pe Atye Kena is a longitudinal cohort intervention study enrolling young women aged 18–49 years old living in the municipality of Gulu, Uganda. HIV, HBV, syphilis serologic tests, and a comprehensive electronic questionnaire on sexual high-risk behaviours were administered before intervention. In this work, we report baseline characteristics of the population along with factors associated with HIV status. Statistical analysis was performed by uni- and multivariable regression models. Results 461 VW were enrolled (mean age: 29 (SD7.7)). 40 (8.7%) were found to be positive for HIV, 42 (9.1%) for syphilis and 29 (6.3%) for HBV. Older age (> 34 years vs. < 24 years; OR 4.95, 95% CI: 1.7 to 14); having done the last HIV test > 12m before the interview (OR 5.21, 95% CI: 2.3 to 11); suspecting the male sexual partner to be HIV+ (OR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1 to 4.3); not having used condom at first sexual intercourse (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.3 to 5.15) were all factors associated with an incident HIV diagnosis. Conclusions In this cohort, HIV prevalence is high, and sexual high-risk behaviours are multifaced; future interventions will be aimed to reduce HIV/STIs misconceptions and to promote a sense of community, self-determination and female empowerment.
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Birdthistle I, Carter DJ, Mthiyane NT, Orindi BO, Muuo S, Chimbindi N, Ziraba A, Shahmanesh M, Baisley K, Floyd S. Early impact of the DREAMS partnership on young women's knowledge of their HIV status: causal analysis of population-based surveys in Kenya and South Africa. J Epidemiol Community Health 2021; 76:158-167. [PMID: 34518330 PMCID: PMC8762002 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2020-216042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Knowledge of one’s HIV status is the gateway to treatment and prevention, but remains low among young people. We investigated the early impact (2016–2017) of Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS), a multisectoral HIV prevention package, on knowledge of HIV status among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Methods In 2017, randomly selected AGYW were enrolled into surveys, N=1081 aged 15–22 years in Nairobi slum settlements, and N=2174 aged 13–22 years in rural KwaZulu-Natal. We estimated the causal effect of being a DREAMS beneficiary on knowledge of HIV status (those who self-reported as HIV-positive or tested HIV-negative in the past year), accounting for an AGYW’s propensity to be a DREAMS beneficiary. Results In Nairobi, knowledge of HIV status was higher among DREAMS beneficiaries compared with non-beneficiaries (92% vs 69%, adjusted OR=8.7; 95% CI 5.8 to 12.9), with DREAMS predicted to increase the outcome by 28%, from 65% if none were a DREAMS beneficiary to 93% if all were beneficiaries. The increase attributable to DREAMS was larger among younger participants: 32% and 23% among those aged 15–17 and 18–22 years, respectively. In KwaZulu-Natal, knowledge of status was higher among DREAMS beneficiaries aged 13–17 years (37% vs 26% among non-beneficiaries), with a 9% difference due to DREAMS (95% CI 4.8% to 14.4%), and no evidence of effect among 18–22 years (−2.8%; 95% CI −11.1% to 5.7%). Conclusion DREAMS substantially increased knowledge of HIV status among AGYW in Nairobi, and among younger but not older AGYW in KwaZulu-Natal. Adolescent girls can be reached early (before age 18) with community-based HIV testing programmes in diverse high-prevalence settings, with a large impact on the proportion who know their HIV status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isolde Birdthistle
- Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Daniel J Carter
- Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nondumiso T Mthiyane
- Departments of Population and Social Sciences, Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Benedict O Orindi
- Department of Epidemiology & Demography, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Sheru Muuo
- Health and Systems for Health, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Natsayi Chimbindi
- Departments of Population and Social Sciences, Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Abdhalah Ziraba
- Health and Systems for Health, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Kathy Baisley
- Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sian Floyd
- Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Hensen B, Machingura F, Busza J, Birdthistle I, Chabata S, Chiyaka T, Floyd S, Jamali G, Mushati P, Hargreaves J, Cowan F. How Can We Support the Use of Oral PrEP Among Young Women who Sell Sex? A PrEP Cascade Analysis. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021; 88:45-56. [PMID: 34050101 PMCID: PMC8357043 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We constructed self-reported pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cascades and explored factors associated with and barriers to PrEP use to inform efforts to support PrEP use among young women who sell sex. METHODS Using self-reported data from HIV-negative young women who sell sex enrolled into a cohort study using respondent-driven sampling in Zimbabwe, we constructed PrEP cascades assessing knowledge of, ever offered, ever used, and current PrEP use in 2017 and 2019. We used logistic regression to examine factors associated with PrEP use by 2019. Through qualitative interviews with 43 women enrolled in the cohort, we investigated barriers to PrEP use. RESULTS At enrollment, 50% of women had heard of PrEP, 12% had ever been offered PrEP, and 7% ever used PrEP. Over time, all cascade domains: 96% of women had heard of and 55% reported an active offer of PrEP. Among women retained in the study in 2019 (56%; n = 538), 34% ever took PrEP by 2019. PrEP use was associated with, at enrollment, reporting more clients in the past month (10+: 45% vs 1-3: 27% adjOR = 1.71 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.76), duration of selling sex (24% <2 years vs 38% 2-3 years; adjOR = 0.51 95% CI: 0.32 to 0.83), and having visited a female sex worker program in the past 12 months (55% vs 27%; adjOR = 2.92 95% CI: 1.91 to 4.46). Qualitative interviews revealed fear of disclosing sex work, HIV-related/ART-related stigma, and (opportunity) costs of accessing PrEP as barriers to use. CONCLUSION PrEP use was associated with factors known to increase HIV risk. Fear of stigma, disclosure, and supply-side barriers need to be addressed to increase women's ability to use PrEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Hensen
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom;
| | - F. Machingura
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe;
| | - J. Busza
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom;
| | - I. Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; and
| | - S.T. Chabata
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe;
| | - T. Chiyaka
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe;
| | - S. Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; and
| | - G. Jamali
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe;
| | - P. Mushati
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe;
| | - J. Hargreaves
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom;
| | - F.M. Cowan
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe;
- Faculty of Clinical Sciences and International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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Mulwa S, Chimoyi L, Agbla S, Osindo J, Wambiya EO, Gourlay A, Birdthistle I, Ziraba A, Floyd S. Impact of the DREAMS interventions on educational attainment among adolescent girls and young women: Causal analysis of a prospective cohort in urban Kenya. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255165. [PMID: 34383805 PMCID: PMC8360512 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DREAMS promotes a comprehensive HIV prevention approach to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). One pathway that DREAMS seeks to impact is to support AGYW to stay in school and achieve secondary education. We assessed the impact of DREAMS on educational outcomes among AGYW in Nairobi, Kenya. METHODS AND FINDINGS In two informal settlements in Nairobi, 1081 AGYW aged 15-22 years were randomly selected in 2017 and followed-up to 2019. AGYW reporting invitation to participate in DREAMS during 2017-18 were classified as "DREAMS beneficiaries". Our main outcome was being in school and/or completed lower secondary school in 2019. We used multivariable logistic regression to quantify the association between being a DREAMS beneficiary and the outcome; and a causal inference framework to estimate proportions achieving the outcome if all, versus no, AGYW were DREAMS beneficiaries, adjusting for the propensity to be a DREAMS beneficiary. Of AGYW enrolled in 2017, 79% (852/1081) were followed-up to 2019. In unadjusted analysis, DREAMS beneficiaries had higher attainment than non-beneficiaries (85% vs 75% in school or completed lower secondary school, Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.3,2.8). The effect weakened with adjustment for age and other confounders, (adjusted OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 0.9,2.4). From the causal analysis, evidence was weak for an impact of DREAMS (estimated 83% vs 79% in school or completed lower secondary school, if all vs no AGYW were beneficiaries, difference = 4%; 95%CI: -2,11%). Among AGYW out of school at baseline, the estimated differences were 21% (95%CI: -3,43%) among 15-17 year olds; and 4% (95%CI: -8,17%) among 18-22 year olds. CONCLUSIONS DREAMS had a modest impact on educational attainment among AGYW in informal settlements in Kenya, by supporting both retention and re-enrolment in school. Larger impact might be achieved if more AGYW were reached with educational subsidies, alongside other DREAMS interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Mulwa
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lucy Chimoyi
- Research Management Department, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Schadrac Agbla
- Department of Health Data Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Osindo
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Annabelle Gourlay
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abdhalah Ziraba
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sian Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Shahmanesh M, Okesola N, Chimbindi N, Zuma T, Mdluli S, Mthiyane N, Adeagbo O, Dreyer J, Herbst C, McGrath N, Harling G, Sherr L, Seeley J. Thetha Nami: participatory development of a peer-navigator intervention to deliver biosocial HIV prevention for adolescents and youth in rural South Africa. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1393. [PMID: 34256725 PMCID: PMC8278686 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11399-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite effective biomedical tools, HIV remains the largest cause of morbidity/mortality in South Africa - especially among adolescents and young people. We used community-based participatory research (CBPR), informed by principles of social justice, to develop a peer-led biosocial intervention for HIV prevention in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). METHODS Between March 2018 and September 2019 we used CBPR to iteratively co-create and contextually adapt a biosocial peer-led intervention to support HIV prevention. Men and women aged 18-30 years were selected by community leaders of 21 intervention implementation areas (izigodi) and underwent 20 weeks of training as peer-navigators. We synthesised quantitative and qualitative data collected during a 2016-2018 study into 17 vignettes illustrating the local drivers of HIV. During three participatory intervention development workshops and community mapping sessions, the peer-navigators critically engaged with vignettes, brainstormed solutions and mapped the components to their own izigodi. The intervention components were plotted to a Theory of Change which, following a six-month pilot and process evaluation, the peer-navigators refined. The intervention will be evaluated in a randomised controlled trial ( NCT04532307 ). RESULTS Following written and oral assessments, 57 of the 108 initially selected participated in two workshops to discuss the vignettes and co-create the Thetha Nami (`talk to me'). The intervention included peer-led health promotion to improve self-efficacy and demand for HIV prevention, referrals to social and educational resources, and aaccessible youth-friendly clinical services to improve uptake of HIV prevention. During the pilot the peer-navigators approached 6871 young people, of whom 6141 (89%) accepted health promotion and 438 were linked to care. During semi-structured interviews peer-navigators described the appeal of providing sexual health information to peers of a similar age and background but wanted to provide more than just "onward referral". In the third participatory workshop 54 peer-navigators refined the Thetha Nami intervention to add three components: structured assessment tool to tailor health promotion and referrals, safe spaces and community advocacy to create an enabling environment, and peer-mentorship and navigation of resources to improve retention in HIV prevention. CONCLUSION Local youth were able to use evidence to develop a contextually adapted peer-led intervention to deliver biosocial HIV prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, Capper Street, London, WC1E 6JB, UK.
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
| | | | - Natsayi Chimbindi
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, Capper Street, London, WC1E 6JB, UK
| | - Thembelihle Zuma
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, Capper Street, London, WC1E 6JB, UK
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Sakhile Mdluli
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Oluwafemi Adeagbo
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, Capper Street, London, WC1E 6JB, UK
- University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Jaco Dreyer
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Carina Herbst
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Nuala McGrath
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Guy Harling
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, Capper Street, London, WC1E 6JB, UK
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health & Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt) University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology & Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Lorraine Sherr
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, Capper Street, London, WC1E 6JB, UK
| | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Shahmanesh M, Mthiyane TN, Herbsst C, Neuman M, Adeagbo O, Mee P, Chimbindi N, Smit T, Okesola N, Harling G, McGrath N, Sherr L, Seeley J, Subedar H, Johnson C, Hatzold K, Terris-Prestholt F, Cowan FM, Corbett EL. Effect of peer-distributed HIV self-test kits on demand for biomedical HIV prevention in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a three-armed cluster-randomised trial comparing social networks versus direct delivery. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:e004574. [PMID: 34315730 PMCID: PMC8317107 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE We investigated two peer distribution models of HIV self-testing (HIVST) in HIV prevention demand creation compared with trained young community members (peer navigators). METHODS We used restricted randomisation to allocate 24 peer navigator pairs (clusters) in KwaZulu-Natal 1:1:1: (1) standard of care (SOC): peer navigators distributed clinic referrals, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) information to 18-30 year olds. (2) peer navigator direct distribution (PND): Peer navigators distributed HIVST packs (SOC plus two OraQuick HIVST kits) (3) incentivised peer networks (IPN): peer navigators recruited young community members (seeds) to distribute up to five HIVST packs to 18-30 year olds within their social networks. Seeds received 20 Rand (US$1.5) for each recipient who distributed further packs. The primary outcome was PrEP/ART linkage, defined as screening for PrEP/ART eligibility within 90 days of pack distribution per peer navigator month (pnm) of outreach, in women aged 18-24 (a priority for HIV prevention). Investigators and statisticians were blinded to allocation. Analysis was intention to treat. Total and unit costs were collected prospectively. RESULTS Between March and December 2019, 4163 packs (1098 SOC, 1480 PND, 1585 IPN) were distributed across 24 clusters. During 144 pnm, 272 18-30 year olds linked to PrEP/ART (1.9/pnm). Linkage rates for 18-24-year-old women were lower for IPN (n=26, 0.54/pnm) than PND (n=45, 0.80/pnm; SOC n=49, 0.85/pnm). Rate ratios were 0.68 (95% CI 0.28 to 1.66) for IPN versus PND, 0.64 (95% CI 0.26 to 1.62) for IPN versus SOC and 0.95 (95% CI 0.38 to 2.36) for PND versus SOC. In 18-30 year olds, PND had significantly more linkages than IPN (2.11 vs 0.88/pnm, RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.98). Cost per pack distributed was cheapest for IPN (US$36) c.f. SOC (US$64). Cost per person linked to PrEP/ART was cheaper in both peer navigator arms compared with IPN. DISCUSSION HIVST did not increase demand for PrEP/ART. Incentivised social network distribution reached large numbers with HIVST but resulted in fewer linkages compared with PrEP/ART promotion by peer navigators. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03751826.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Shahmanesh
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Carina Herbsst
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Melissa Neuman
- MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, London, UK
| | - Oluwafemi Adeagbo
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Paul Mee
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London, London, UK
| | - Natsayi Chimbindi
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Theresa Smit
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Guy Harling
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Nuala McGrath
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
- Faculty of medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
| | - Lorraine Sherr
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Janet Seeley
- Department of Global Health &Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Hasina Subedar
- South African National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Cheryl Johnson
- HIV, Hepatitis and STI Department, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karin Hatzold
- Population Services International, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Fern Terris-Prestholt
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, London, UK
| | - Frances M Cowan
- Centre for Sexual Health HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Elizabeth Lucy Corbett
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- TB-HIV Group, Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
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Jackson-Gibson M, Ezema AU, Orero W, Were I, Ohiomoba RO, Mbullo PO, Hirschhorn LR. Facilitators and barriers to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake through a community-based intervention strategy among adolescent girls and young women in Seme Sub-County, Kisumu, Kenya. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1284. [PMID: 34210288 PMCID: PMC8252310 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11335-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the introduction of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as an HIV prevention strategy has allowed women to exercise more control over the reduction of HIV transmission rates, adolescent girls and young women in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience higher rates of HIV infections and bear the greatest disease burden. Understanding progress in PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women would enhance risk reduction in this vulnerable population. The Determined, Resilient, AIDS-Free, Mentored and Safe women (DREAMS) Initiative plays a key role in this risk reduction strategy. METHODS We performed a qualitative study to explore facilitators and barriers to PrEP implementation and assess factors effecting initiation and persistence on PrEP among adolescent girls and young women enrolled in the DREAMS Initiative at Pamoja Community Based Organization in Kisumu, Kenya. We conducted key informant interviews (n = 15) with Pamoja Community Based Organization staff, health care providers and community leaders. Additionally, we conducted focus group discussions with young women receiving PrEP and peer mentors (n = 40). We performed a directed content analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to organize the identified facilitators and barriers. RESULTS We found that the use of the safe space model, decentralization of PrEP support and delivery, peer mentors, effective linkage to local health care facilities, the sensitization of parents and male sexual partners, disclosure of PrEP use by beneficiaries, active stakeholder involvement and community engagement were among some of the facilitators to PrEP uptake. Barriers to PrEP implementation, initiation and persistence included stigma associated with the use of anti-retroviral drugs, drug side effects, frequent relocation of beneficiaries, limited resources for routine screening and medication monitoring, and a limited number of qualified health care workers for PrEP distribution and administration. CONCLUSION Overall, the community roll-out of PrEP within the DREAMS Initiative was successful due to a number of key facilitating factors, which ultimately led to successful PrEP implementation, increased PrEP initiation and enhanced persistence among adolescent girls and young women. The identified barriers should be addressed so that a larger scale-up of PrEP roll-out is possible in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Jackson-Gibson
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
| | | | | | - Irene Were
- Pamoja Community Based Organization, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Patrick Owuor Mbullo
- Pamoja Community Based Organization, Kisumu, Kenya.,Department of Anthropology & Global Health, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lisa Ruth Hirschhorn
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Chabata ST, Hensen B, Chiyaka T, Mushati P, Musemburi S, Dirawo J, Busza J, Floyd S, Birdthistle I, Hargreaves JR, Cowan FM. The impact of the DREAMS partnership on HIV incidence among young women who sell sex in two Zimbabwean cities: results of a non-randomised study. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:bmjgh-2020-003892. [PMID: 33906844 PMCID: PMC8088246 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Young women who sell sex (YWSS) in Zimbabwe remain at high risk of HIV infection. Effective HIV prevention strategies are needed. Through support to access a combination of evidence-based interventions, including oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) partnership aimed to reduce new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women by 40% over 24 months. METHODS Non-randomised 'plausibility' evaluation, powered to detect a 40% HIV incidence difference between DREAMS and non-DREAMS sites. Two large cities with DREAMS funding were included, and four smaller non-DREAMS towns for comparison. In all sites, YWSS were enrolled to a cohort through peer-referral. Women were followed up for 24 months. HIV seroconversion was the primary outcome, with secondary outcomes identified through a theory of change. Outcomes were compared between YWSS recruited in DREAMS cities and non-DREAMS towns, adjusting for individual-level confounders and HIV prevalence at enrolment. RESULTS From April to July 2017, 2431 women were enrolled, 1859 of whom were HIV negative at enrolment; 1019 of these women (54.8%) were followed up from March to May 2019 and included in endline analysis. Access to clinical services increased, but access to socioeconomic interventions promoted by DREAMS was limited. A total of 79 YWSS HIV seroconverted, with HIV incidence among YWSS in DREAMS cities lower (3.1/100 person-years) than in non-DREAMS towns (5.3/100 person-years). In prespecified adjusted analysis, HIV incidence was lower in DREAMS cities but with weak statistical evidence (adjusted rate ratio (RR)=0.68; 95% CI 0.40 to 1.19; p=0.18). Women in DREAMS cities were more likely to report ever and ongoing PrEP use, consistent condom use, fewer sexual partners and less intimate partner violence. CONCLUSION It is plausible that DREAMS lowered HIV incidence among YWSS in two Zimbabwean cities, but our evaluation provides weak statistical evidence for impact and suggests any reduction in incidence was lower than the anticipated 40% decline. We identified changes to some important 'pathways to impact' variables, including condom use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungai T Chabata
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe .,Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bernadette Hensen
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Tarisai Chiyaka
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Phillis Mushati
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Sithembile Musemburi
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Jeffrey Dirawo
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Joanna Busza
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sian Floyd
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - James R Hargreaves
- Centre for Evaluation, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Frances M Cowan
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.,Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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43
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Maulide Cane R, Melesse DY, Kayeyi N, Manu A, Wado YD, Barros A, Boerma T. HIV trends and disparities by gender and urban-rural residence among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Reprod Health 2021; 18:120. [PMID: 34134720 PMCID: PMC8210344 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-021-01118-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In sub-Saharan Africa HIV transmission is a major challenge in adolescents, especially among girls and those living in urban settings. Major international efforts have aimed at reducing sexual transmission of HIV. This analysis aims to assess the trends in HIV prevalence by gender in adolescents, as well as urban–rural disparities. Methods HIV prevalence data at ages 15–19 years were obtained for 31 countries with a national survey since 2010 and for 23 countries with one survey circa 2005 and a recent survey circa 2015. Country medians and average annual rates of changes were used to summarize the trends for two subregions in sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa, which largely correspond with higher and lower HIV prevalence countries. Data on HIV incidence at ages 15–24 and prevalence at 5–9 and 10–14 years were reviewed from 11 recent national surveys. Trends in urban–rural disparities in HIV prevalence and selected indicators of sexual and HIV testing behaviours were assessed for females and males 15–24 years, using the same surveys. Results HIV prevalence among girls 15–19 years declined in eastern and Southern Africa from 5.7 to 2.6% during 2005–2015 (country median), corresponding with an average annual rate of reduction of 6.5% per year. Among boys, the median HIV prevalence declined from 2.1 to 1.2%. Changes were also observed in West and Central Africa where median HIV prevalence among girls decreased from 0.7 to 0.4% (average annual rate of reduction 5.9%), but not for boys (0.3%). Girl-boy differences at 10–14 years were small with a country median HIV of 1.0% and 1.3%, respectively. Urban females and males 15–24 had at least 1.5 times higher HIV prevalence than their rural counterparts in both subregions, and since the urban–rural declines were similar, the gaps persisted during 2005–2015. Conclusions HIV prevalence among adolescents declined in almost all countries during the last decade, in both urban and rural settings. The urban–rural gap persisted and HIV transmission to girls, but not boys, is still a major challenge in Eastern and Southern African countries. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12978-021-01118-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Maulide Cane
- Women's and Children's Health Program, Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Maputo, Mozambique.
| | - Dessalegn Y Melesse
- Institute for Global Public Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | | | - Adom Manu
- Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | - Ties Boerma
- Institute for Global Public Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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Mulwa S, Osindo J, Wambiya EO, Gourlay A, Maina BW, Orindi BO, Floyd S, Ziraba A, Birdthistle I. Reaching early adolescents with a complex intervention for HIV prevention: findings from a cohort study to evaluate DREAMS in two informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1107. [PMID: 34112119 PMCID: PMC8194171 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11017-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The DREAMS Partnership promotes combination HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women. We examined the extent to which DREAMS interventions reached early adolescent girls (EAG; aged 10-14 years) in two informal settlements in Nairobi, and the characteristics of those reached, after 3 years of implementation. METHODS We utilized three data rounds from a randomly-sampled cohort of EAG established in 2017 in Korogocho and Viwandani informal settlements where DREAMS interventions were implemented. Interventions were classified as individual or contextual-level, with individual interventions further categorised as primary (prioritised for this age group), or secondary. We summarised self-reported invitation to participate in DREAMS, and uptake of eight interventions that were supported by DREAMS, during 2017-2019. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify individual and household characteristics associated with invitation to DREAMS and uptake of primary interventions. RESULTS Data were available for 606, 516 (retention rate of 85%) and 494 (82%) EAG in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Proportions invited to DREAMS increased from 49% in 2017, to 77% by 2018, and to 88% by 2019. School-based HIV and violence prevention, and HIV testing and counselling were the most accessed interventions (both at 82%). Cumulative uptake of interventions was higher among those invited to participate in DREAMS compared to those never invited, particularly for new interventions such as social asset building and financial capability training. Contextual-level interventions were accessed infrequently. Most of those invited both in 2017 and 2018 accessed ≥3 interventions (96%), and 55% received all three primary interventions by 2019. CONCLUSIONS Uptake of DREAMS interventions among a representative sample of EAG was high and quickly increased over the implementation period. The majority accessed multiple interventions, indicating that it is feasible to integrate and deliver a package of interventions to EAG in a challenging informal context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Mulwa
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Jane Osindo
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Elvis O Wambiya
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Annabelle Gourlay
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Benedict O Orindi
- Center for Geographic Medicine Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute - Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Sian Floyd
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Abdhalah Ziraba
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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45
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Temin M, Milford C, Beksinska M, Van Zyl D, Cockburn J. Inclusive HIV Prevention in South Africa: Reaching Foreign Migrant Adolescent Girls. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2021; 3:629246. [PMID: 36304008 PMCID: PMC9580656 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2021.629246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Within South Africa's HIV epidemic, foreign migrant adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) face unique challenges in an environment typified by xenophobia and structural inequity. The intersection of age, gender, and migrant-related factors creates threats that may exacerbate their HIV risk, including discrimination, limited social capital, and economic dependency. This paper explores HIV-related determinants of risk from the perspective of foreign migrant AGYW who participated in a Girls' Club project implemented by Community Media Trust. Within clubs, foreign migrant AGYW met weekly with a female mentor to discuss HIV, safety planning, financial literacy, and other topics. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with club members and parents to learn about pressing challenges in a context characterized by early sexual debut, high rates of teenage pregnancy, and relationships typified by material exchange. FGDs addressed HIV risk factors such as social isolation and limited access to services, exacerbated by migrant-related stigma and discrimination and lack of identity documents. The foreign migrant AGYW appreciated the role of the Girls' Clubs and mentors in helping them overcome barriers to school and health services as well as building their social and other assets. FGD results indicate that HIV prevention in South Africa should prioritize action to address the specific determinants of foreign migrant AGYW's HIV risk, as well as inclusive policies that recognize migrants' heterogeneity based on gender and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Temin
- Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program, Population Council, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cecilia Milford
- MRU (MatCH Research Unit), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Cecilia Milford
| | - Mags Beksinska
- MRU (MatCH Research Unit), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa
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Njah J, Chiasson MA, Reidy W. Known HIV status among adolescent women attending antenatal care services in Eswatini, Ethiopia and Mozambique. Reprod Health 2021; 18:90. [PMID: 33941205 PMCID: PMC8091526 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-021-01090-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antenatal care (ANC) clinics remain important entry points to HIV care for pregnant women living with HIV—including adolescents. Prior knowledge of their HIV status at ANC enrollment is crucial to providing services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. We examined known HIV status of pregnant adolescents and women in other age groups at ANC enrollment. Methods A descriptive study of routinely reported PMTCT data from 419 facilities in Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Mozambique, from January through December 2018 was conducted. We assessed knowledge of HIV status by country for three age groups: adolescents aged 15–19 years, young women aged 20–24 years, and older women aged 25–49 years. We report HIV prevalence and proportions of known and newly diagnosed HIV infections in women, by age group and country. The data were summarized by frequencies and proportions, including their 95% confidence intervals. Results Among the facilities examined, 52 (12.4%) were in Eswatini, 63 (15.0%) in Ethiopia, and 304 (72.6%) in Mozambique. Across three countries, 488,121 women attended a first ANC visit and 23,917 (4.9%) were HIV-positive. Adolescents constituted 22% of all ANC attendees, whereas young and older women represented 33% and 45%, respectively. HIV prevalence was lowest among adolescents than in other age groups in Eswatini (adolescents 11.9%, young 24.2% and older 47.3%), but comparable to young women in Ethiopia (adolescents 1.6%, young 1.6% and older 2.2%) and Mozambique (adolescents 2.5%, young 2.5% and older 5.8%), However, in each of the three countries, lower proportions of adolescents knew their HIV-positive status before ANC enrollment compared to other age groups: in Eswatini (adolescents 51.3%, young 59.9% and older 79.2%), in Ethiopia (adolescents 42.9%, young 63.7% and older 75.2%), and in Mozambique (adolescents 16.4%, young 33.2% and older 45.6%). Conclusion Overall, adolescents made up nearly one-quarter of the women examined and had the least knowledge of their HIV status at ANC enrollment. Their HIV prevalence and known HIV-positive status varied widely across the countries examined. Adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health, and PMTCT services, before pregnancy, are needed to improve knowledge of HIV status and support pregnant adolescents and their infants. Plain English summary Antenatal care (ANC) clinics are important for HIV testing of pregnant adolescents, who may not know their HIV-positive status at the first ANC visit. We describe data on pregnant adolescents and women in other age groups in ANC services to examine their prior HIV status at ANC enrollment across three African countries. We examined data from 419 PMTCT sites in Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Mozambique from January-December 2018, to evaluate HIV testing results for adolescents, young and older women aged 15–19, 20–24 and 25–49 years, respectively. We report the number of women living with HIV and the proportions of known and newly identified women living with HIV, by age-group and country. Across three countries, 488,121 women attended ANC and 23,917 (4.9%) were living with HIV. Adolescents constituted 22% of all ANC attendees, whereas young and older women represented 33% and 45%, respectively. HIV prevalence in each country compared to other age groups was lowest and varied among adolescents from 11.9% in Eswatini, to 1.6% in Ethiopia and to 2.5% in Mozambique. Also, fewer adolescents knew their HIV-positive status before ANC enrollment compared to young and older women from 51.3% in Eswatini, 42.9% in Ethiopia to only 16.4% in Mozambique. Pregnant adolescents made up nearly one-quarter of all ANC attendees; a majority of them had no previously known HIV-positive status. Adolescent-friendly, sexual and reproductive health services, before pregnancy and in PMTCT services, are needed to support pregnant adolescents and their infants. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12978-021-01090-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Njah
- ICAP At Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W. 168th St., New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Mary Ann Chiasson
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - William Reidy
- ICAP At Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W. 168th St., New York, NY, 10032, USA. .,Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Zamudio-Haas S, Auerswald C, Miller L, Amboka S, Agot I, Kadede K, Otieno B, Odhiambo H, Odeny D, Onyango J, Bukusi EA, Truong HHM. Seeking a "Sponyo": Insights Into Motivations and Risks Around Intergenerational Transactional Sex Among Adolescent Boys and Girls in Kenya. J Adolesc Health 2021; 68:930-936. [PMID: 33221187 PMCID: PMC10659078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Intergenerational transactional sex (ITS) occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa within the context of widespread poverty and limited employment opportunities. We examined how adolescents describe these relationships, why their peers engage in ITS, and what repercussions adolescents shoulder as a result. METHODS We conducted 14 focus group discussions with boys and girls (N = 120) aged 15-19 years in informal settlement communities in Kisumu, Kenya. We used a framework approach to guide data analysis. RESULTS Adolescents referred to a relatively well-off older partner in ITS relationships as a "sponsor." Poverty proved the main driver of ITS. Boys and girls noted family and peer pressure to have a "better life" via sponsors who provided for three levels of need: urgent (e.g., food), critical (e.g., school fees), and material (e.g., clothes). Adolescents described multiple risks, including "no power" to negotiate condom use. Repercussions included dropping out of school because of community stigma, "abandonment" in the event of pregnancy, and unsafe abortions. CONCLUSIONS Adolescents face the difficult choice between the need for money to contribute to their families' income and the discomfort and health risks of a sponsor relationship. The pressure to have a sponsor was higher among out-of-school adolescents and adolescent mothers because of heightened poverty and vulnerability. Structural interventions, such as eliminating school fees, could help reduce adolescents' perceived need to acquire sponsors. Our findings suggest a need to update guidelines for sexual and reproductive health counseling in schools and community settings to openly discuss why ITS is so commonplace and engage in risk reduction conversations with adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Colette Auerswald
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Lara Miller
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Sayo Amboka
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Irene Agot
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Elizabeth A Bukusi
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Hong-Ha M Truong
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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Remera E, Mugwaneza P, Chammartin F, Mulindabigwi A, Musengimana G, Forrest JI, Mwanyumba F, Kondwani N, Condo JU, Riedel DJ, Mills EJ, Nsanzimana S, Bucher HC. Towards elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Rwanda: a nested case-control study of risk factors for transmission. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:339. [PMID: 33910502 PMCID: PMC8082927 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03806-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT) has substantially declined since the scale-up of prevention programs around the world, including Rwanda. To achieve full elimination of MTCT, it is important to understand the risk factors associated with residual HIV transmission, defined as MTCT at the population-level that still occurs despite universal access to PMTCT. METHODS We performed a case control study of children born from mothers with HIV with known vital status at 18 months from birth, who were followed in three national cohorts between October and December 2013, 2014, and 2015 in Rwanda. Children with HIV were matched in a ratio of 1:2 with HIV-uninfected children and a conditional logistic regression model was used to investigate risk factors for MTCT. RESULTS In total, 84 children with HIV were identified and matched with 164 non-infected children. The median age of mothers from both groups was 29 years (interquartile range (IQR): 24-33). Of these mothers, 126 (51.4 %) initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) before their pregnancy on record. In a multivariable regression analysis, initiation of ART in the third trimester (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 9.25; 95 % Confidence Interval [95 % CI]: 2.12-40.38) and during labour or post-partum (aOR: 8.87; 95 % CI: 1.92-40.88), compared to initiation of ART before pregnancy, increased the risk of MTCT. Similarly, offspring of single mothers (aOR: 7.15; 95 % CI: 1.15-44.21), and absence of postpartum neonatal ART prophylaxis (aOR: 7.26; 95 % CI: 1.66-31.59) were factors significantly associated with MTCT. CONCLUSIONS Late ART initiation for PMTCT and lack of postpartum infant prophylaxis are still the most important risk factors to explain MTCT in the era of universal access. Improved early attendance at antenatal care, early ART initiation, and enhancing the continuum of care especially for single mothers is crucial for MTCT elimination in Rwanda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Remera
- Institute of HIV Disease Prevention and Control, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali, Rwanda. .,Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. .,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Placidie Mugwaneza
- Institute of HIV Disease Prevention and Control, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Frédérique Chammartin
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Augustin Mulindabigwi
- Institute of HIV Disease Prevention and Control, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Gentille Musengimana
- Institute of HIV Disease Prevention and Control, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Jamie I Forrest
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Fabian Mwanyumba
- United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ng'oma Kondwani
- United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Jeanine U Condo
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.,Tulane University, New Orleans, USA
| | - David J Riedel
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Edward J Mills
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Sabin Nsanzimana
- Institute of HIV Disease Prevention and Control, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Heiner C Bucher
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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49
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Characterizing a sexual health and HIV risk stratification scale for sexually active adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Tanzania. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248153. [PMID: 33735253 PMCID: PMC7971553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15 to 24 years face disproportionately high risks of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A sexual health risk stratification tool can support the development and implementation of tailored HIV and STI prevention services for sub-groups of at-risk AGYW. Data were collected among sexually active AGYW aged 15 to 24 years in Tanzania between April 2015 and March 2017. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to construct and assess the latent structure of a ten-item scale for rapid assessment of sexual health risks. Items with high factor loadings and minimal cross loadings were retained in the final scale. Scale performance was appraised against condomless sex (defined as unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse) reported by AGYW for construct validity. A three-factor structure of vulnerability to HIV among AGYW was supported with subscales for socioeconomic vulnerability; lack of adult support; and sexual behavioral risks. The chi-square goodness-of-fit test, root mean square error of approximation, comparative fit index, and Tucker-Lewis index indicated a strong goodness-of-fit of the three-factor scale. Cronbach alphas (0.55 for socioeconomic vulnerability, 0.55 for lack of support, and 0.48 for sexual risk) indicated sub-optimal internal consistency for all sub-scales. The factor-item and factor-factor correlations identified in these analyses were consistent with the conceptual framework of vulnerability of HIV infection in AGYW, suggesting good construct validity. The scale also demonstrated a statistically significant association with condomless sex and could be potentially used for sexual health risk stratification (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.23). The sexual health and HIV risk stratification scale demonstrated potential in identifying sexually active AGYW at high risk for HIV and other STIs. Ultimately, all AGYW in Tanzania are not at equal risk for HIV and this scale may support directing resources towards those at highest risk of HIV.
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50
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Mthiyane N, Harling G, Chimbindi N, Baisley K, Seeley J, Dreyer J, Zuma T, Birdthistle I, Floyd S, McGrath N, Tanser F, Shahmanesh M, Sherr L. Common mental disorders and HIV status in the context of DREAMS among adolescent girls and young women in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:478. [PMID: 33691665 PMCID: PMC7945212 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10527-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV affects many adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa. Given the bi-directional HIV and mental health relationship, mental health services may help prevent and treat HIV in this population. We therefore examined the association between common mental disorders (CMD) and HIV-related behaviours and service utilisation, in the context of implementation of the combination DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe) HIV prevention programme in rural uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal. DREAMS involved delivering a package of multiple interventions in a single area to address multiple sources of HIV risk for AGYW. METHODS We analysed baseline data from an age-stratified, representative cohort of 13-22 year-old AGYW. We measured DREAMS uptake as a count of the number of individual-level or community-based interventions each participant received in the last 12 months. CMD was measured using the validated Shona Symptom Questionnaire, with a cut off score ≥ 9 indicating probable CMD. HIV status was ascertained through home-based serotesting. We used logistic regression to estimate the association between CMD and HIV status adjusting for socio-demographics and behaviours. RESULTS Probable CMD prevalence among the 2184 respondents was 22.2%, increasing steadily from 10.1% among 13 year-old girls to 33.1% among 22 year-old women. AGYW were more likely to report probable CMD if they tested positive for HIV (odds ratio vs. test negative: 1.88, 95% confidence interval: 1.40-2.53). After adjusting for socio-demographics and behaviours, there was evidence that probable CMD was more prevalent among respondents who reported using multiple healthcare-related DREAMS interventions. CONCLUSION We found high prevalence of probable CMD among AGYW in rural South Africa, but it was only associated with HIV serostatus when not controlling for HIV acquisition risk factors. Our findings highlight that improving mental health service access for AGYW at high risk for HIV acquisition might protect them. Interventions already reaching AGYW with CMD, such as DREAMS, can be used to deliver mental health services to reduce both CMD and HIV risks. There is a need to integrate mental health education into existing HIV prevention programmes in school and communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guy Harling
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health & Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology & Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Natsayi Chimbindi
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Kathy Baisley
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jaco Dreyer
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Thembelihle Zuma
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Sian Floyd
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nuala McGrath
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Frank Tanser
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Lorraine Sherr
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
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