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Thomas D, Nalumansi A, Reichman M, Metitiri M, Nambi F, Kibuuka J, Nakabugo L, Kamusiime B, Kasiita V, Nalukwago GK, Muwonge TR, Simoni J, Montgomery ET, Mujugira A, Heffron R. Implementation of gender-based violence screening guidelines in public HIV treatment programs: A mixed methods evaluation in Uganda. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0003185. [PMID: 38833452 PMCID: PMC11149855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV and gender-based violence (GBV) intersect to threaten population health. The Uganda Ministry of Health recommends routine GBV screening alongside HIV care but evidence detailing its implementation in HIV care settings is limited. We evaluated screening practices in public HIV clinics to generate evidence supporting GBV screening optimization. METHODS To evaluate GBV screening implementation in antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics, we extracted client data from GBV registers at 12 public ART clinics in Uganda (January 2019-December 2021). We concurrently evaluated perceptions of GBV screening/referral practices by conducting in-depth qualitative interviews with providers (N = 30) and referral partners (N = 10). We contextualized quantitative findings with interview data which were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS During the evaluation period, >90% of providers in participating health facilities implemented GBV screening. Among 107,767 clients served in public ART clinics, providers identified 9,290 (8.6%) clients who experienced past-year physical, sexual and/or emotional GBV of whom 86% received counseling and 19% were referred to support services-most commonly to legal services. Key factors influencing GBV screening implementation included awareness of screening guidelines; client volume; and client's level of engagement in HIV care. Providers and referral partners identified important benefits to clients (e.g., pursuit of justice and removal from violent environments) when referrals were successful. Key factors influencing referrals included financial constraints that limited referral partners' ability to provide services at no cost to clients and socio-cultural norms that inhibited client willingness to pursue support services. CONCLUSIONS GBV screening implementation in ART clinics supports identification and referral of clients exposed to violence. The effectiveness of GBV screening may be limited by socio-cultural factors that inhibit client capacity to pursue referrals and fragmented and resource-constrained referral networks. Providers and referral partners identified allocating funds to support referrals and collaborative networking meetings as important opportunities for strengthening GBV referrals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy Thomas
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Mira Reichman
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Mine Metitiri
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Florence Nambi
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joseph Kibuuka
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Brenda Kamusiime
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Vicent Kasiita
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Jane Simoni
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth T. Montgomery
- Women’s Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Andrew Mujugira
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Renee Heffron
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
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Miller AP, Dean SS, Court L, Mvududu R, Mashele N, Wara NJ, Myer L, Shoptaw S, Davey DLJ. "So that's why I found PrEP to be safest way to protect yourself": exploring IPV experiences and impact on HIV prevention among pregnant and postpartum women in Cape Town, South Africa. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:481. [PMID: 38360616 PMCID: PMC10870618 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17871-w] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs at alarmingly high rates towards pregnant women in South Africa. Experiences of emotional, physical, and sexual IPV in pregnancy can adversely impact the health and safety of mother and fetus. Furthermore, IPV is associated with increased risk of HIV, exacerbating the public health impact of violence among pregnant women in this HIV endemic setting. In-depth understanding of cultural and contextual drivers of experiences of IPV is a critical precursor to development of interventions effectively addressing this issue among pregnant women in South Africa. The present study examines factors contributing to IPV among pregnant women to identify potential points of intervention. We conducted twenty in-depth interviews with postpartum women who used oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in pregnancy and reported recent experiences of IPV and/or ongoing alcohol use in a township near Cape Town, South Africa that experiences a heavy burden of both HIV and IPV. Interpretive thematic analysis was used. Several patterns of IPV during pregnancy were identified and violence was frequently described as co-occurring with male partner alcohol use. A majority of women referenced oral PrEP as their preferred method for HIV prevention, highlighting the agency and discretion it provided as beneficial attributes for women experiencing IPV. Fear of judgement from peers for remaining with an abusive partner and a lack of clear community messaging around IPV were identified as barriers to disclosure and support-seeking. Addressing the lack of social support received by women experiencing IPV during pregnancy in South Africa is essential to comprehensive IPV programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda P Miller
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Sarah Schoetz Dean
- Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lara Court
- Division of Socio-behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rufaro Mvududu
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nyiko Mashele
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nafisa J Wara
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Landon Myer
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Steven Shoptaw
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dvora L Joseph Davey
- Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Thomas D, Nalumansi A, Reichman M, Metitiri M, Kamusiime B, Kasiita V, Nalukwago GK, Kibuuka J, Nakabugo L, Nambi F, Muwonge T, Simoni J, Montgomery ET, Ware N, Wyatt MA, Mujugira A, Heffron R. "Gender-based Violence (GBV) and HIV, they are like sister and brother": barriers and facilitators to GBV screening and referral in public HIV treatment settings in Uganda. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1383. [PMID: 38082407 PMCID: PMC10712148 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10400-2] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People living with HIV are vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV), which can negatively impact HIV treatment outcomes. National guidelines in Uganda recommend GBV screening alongside HIV treatment services. We explored barriers and facilitators to providers implementing GBV screening and referral in public antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics in Uganda. METHODS We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews. Providers were purposively sampled from 12 ART clinics to represent variation in clinical specialty and gender. We used the Theoretical Domains Framework to structure our deductive analysis. RESULTS We conducted 30 in-depth interviews with providers implementing GBV screening and/or referral. Respondents had a median age of 36 (IQR: 30, 43) years and had been offering post-GBV care to clients for a median duration of 5 (4, 7) years. 67% of respondents identified as female and 57% were counselors. Facilitators of GBV screening and referral included providers having access to post-GBV standard operating procedures and screening tools, trainings offered by the Ministry of Health, facility-sponsored continuing medical education units and support from colleagues. Respondents indicated that referrals were uncommon, citing the following barriers: negative expectations regarding the quality and quantity of referral services; lack of financial resources to support clients, facilities, and referral partners throughout the referral process; and sociocultural factors that threatened client willingness to pursue post-GBV support services. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this evaluation support the refinement of GBV screening and referral implementation strategies that leverage facilitators and address barriers to better support individuals living with HIV and who may have heightened vulnerability to GBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy Thomas
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Mira Reichman
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mine Metitiri
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brenda Kamusiime
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Vicent Kasiita
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Joseph Kibuuka
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Florence Nambi
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Timothy Muwonge
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jane Simoni
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Montgomery
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF: University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Norma Ware
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monique A Wyatt
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Global, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Mujugira
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Renee Heffron
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 845 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-2170, USA.
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Concepcion T, Mogere P, Ngure K, Mwathi N, Njiru R, Kipkorir B, Kiptinness C, Maina G, Owidi E, Owens T, Kohler P, Wagenaar BH, Dorsey S, Collins PY, Velloza J. Higher rates of mental health screening of adolescents recorded after provider training using simulated patients in a Kenyan HIV clinic: results of a pilot study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1209525. [PMID: 37808984 PMCID: PMC10556463 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1209525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Kenyan adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) experience a dual burden of HIV and common mental disorders (CMD). HIV clinics are a key entry point for AGYW in need of integrated CMD and HIV care; however, rates of screening and referral for CMDs are low. Our objective was to test an evidence-based provider training strategy, simulated patient encounters (SPEs), on CMD service delivery for AGYW in a Kenyan HIV clinic. Methods This pilot study was conducted in a public HIV clinic in Thika, Kenya from January to November 2021. The simulated patient encounter (SPE) implementation strategy included case script development from prior qualitative work, patient actor training, and a three-day SPE training including four standardized mock clinical encounters followed by quantitative surveys assessing provider competencies for each encounter. We abstracted medical record data related to HIV and CMDs such as HIV status, reason for visit, CMD screening test performed, and counselling or referral information. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis using abstracted HIV and CMD screening rates from AGYW ages 16-25 years visiting the clinic 7 months before and 3 months after SPE training. We used generalized linear models to assess changes in CMD screening rates after training. Results A total of 10 providers participated in the training. Competency ratings improved across four mock encounters (mean score from 8.1 to 13.7) between first and fourth encounters. We abstracted all medical records (n = 1,154) including from 888 (76%) AGYW seeking HIV treatment, 243 (21%) seeking prevention services, and 34 (3%) seeking other services. CMD screening rates increased immediately following training from 8 to 21% [relative risk (RR) = 2.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.34-4.90, p < 0.01]. The 3 months following the SPE training resulted in an 11% relative increase in CMD screening proportion compared to the 7 months pre-SPE (RR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04-1.17, p < 0.01). Finally, 1% of all pre-SPE screens resulted in referral versus 5% of post-SPE screens (p = 0.07). Conclusion The SPE model is a promising implementation strategy for improving HIV provider competencies and CMD service delivery for adolescents in HIV clinics. Future research is needed to explore effects on adolescent clinical outcomes in larger trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Concepcion
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Peter Mogere
- Partners in Health and Research Development, Thika, Kenya
| | - Kenneth Ngure
- School of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Njoroge Mwathi
- Partners in Health and Research Development, Thika, Kenya
| | - Roy Njiru
- Partners in Health and Research Development, Thika, Kenya
| | - Boaz Kipkorir
- Partners in Health and Research Development, Thika, Kenya
| | | | - Gakuo Maina
- Partners in Health and Research Development, Thika, Kenya
| | - Emmah Owidi
- Partners in Health and Research Development, Thika, Kenya
| | - Tamara Owens
- Simulation and Clinical Skills Center, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Pamela Kohler
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Bradley H Wagenaar
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shannon Dorsey
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Pamela Y Collins
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jennifer Velloza
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Hartmann M, Triplett N, Roberts ST, Lanham M, Reddy K, Tenza S, Mayisela N, Mbewe D, Maboa O, Mampuru L, Tolley EE, Palanee-Phillips T, Montgomery ET. Changes in relationships, HIV risk, and feelings towards PrEP: findings from a qualitative explanatory study among participants in the CHARISMA intervention trial. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:440. [PMID: 37608373 PMCID: PMC10464438 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02603-w] [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: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intimate partner violence (IPV) and other relationship-based challenges have been demonstrated to reduce women's ability to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively for HIV prevention. The Community Health Clinical Model for Agency in Relationships and Safer Microbicide Adherence (CHARISMA) intervention was designed to mitigate these challenges and increase South African women's agency to use PrEP. The CHARISMA randomized controlled trial did not identify statistically significant differences in PrEP adherence or relationship dynamics between the intervention and control arms. As such, the aim of this explanatory qualitative sub-study was to understand women's experiences with the CHARISMA trial and explore reasons for the null results. METHODS Twelve CHARISMA trial participants were purposively selected to participate in serial in-depth interviews, which took place at the trial end and 3 months later. Participants represented individuals who had received each of the three counselling modules, 1) healthy communication counselling, 2) PrEP disclosure counselling, or 3) IPV counselling, as well as those in the control arm who received IPV standard-of-care counselling. RESULTS A thematic case analysis revealed numerous positive relationship outcomes among intervention participants, including identifying and ending unhealthy relationships, gaining a sense of personal empowerment, and enacting more positive behaviors and HIV risk reduction strategies in subsequent relationships. These positive shifts were occasionally described as contributing to decisions to discontinue PrEP use, which may partly explain the limited impact of the intervention on PrEP adherence. CONCLUSIONS Future investigations of counselling interventions addressing relationship-based barriers to PrEP use should account for changing risk dynamics and need for PrEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Hartmann
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, California, USA.
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Noah Triplett
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Sarah T Roberts
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | - Krishnaveni Reddy
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Siyanda Tenza
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nonkululeko Mayisela
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Dorica Mbewe
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ontathile Maboa
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lydia Mampuru
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Thesla Palanee-Phillips
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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Ohtsuka MS, Shannon K, Zucchet A, Krüsi A, Bingham B, King D, Axl-Rose T, Braschel M, Deering KN. Prevalence and Social-Structural Correlates of Gender-Based Violence Against Women Living With HIV in Metro Vancouver, Canada. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:4562-4588. [PMID: 36317864 PMCID: PMC9899311 DOI: 10.1177/08862605221118611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Violence experienced by cisgender (cis) and gender minority women living with HIV is known to be high. More work is needed to better understand how to support women living with HIV who have experienced violence. The objectives of this study are therefore to identify the prevalence and correlates of violence by any perpetrator among women living with HIV in a Canadian setting. Data were drawn from 9 years (January, 2010 to February, 2019) of a longitudinal community-based open cohort study of 350+ cis and trans women living with HIV who were living and/or accessed care in Metro Vancouver, Canada (Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS: Women's Longitudinal Needs Assessment "SHAWNA"). Participants completed baseline and biannual follow-up interviews. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE) were performed to identify correlates of recent (last 6 months) violence (physical and/or sexual) by any perpetrator. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) are presented. At baseline, prevalence of violence was high: 95.5% (recent = 19.4%) of participants reported lifetime physical and/or sexual violence, 94.8% (recent = 17.9%) reported lifetime physical violence, and 84.5% (recent = 5.7%) reported lifetime sexual violence. In multivariable logistic regression with GEE, the following variables were associated with higher odds of recent physical/sexual violence: youth (<30 years) (AOR: 1.60, 95% CI [1.15, 2.22]), recent unstable housing/homelessness (AOR: 1.96, 95% CI [1.30, 2.97]), recent food insecurity (AOR: 1.57, 95% CI [1.13, 2.17]), recent incarceration (AOR: 1.85, 95% CI [1.18, 2.91]), recent opioid use (AOR: 1.38, 95% CI [1.04, 1.82]), recent stimulant use (AOR: 2.48, 95% CI [1.72, 3.56]), and lifetime HIV status disclosure without consent (AOR: 1.59, 95% CI [1.13, 2.24]). Trauma- and violence-informed (TVI) policies that include a focus on confidentiality and safe disclosure practices should be integrated into existing housing, incarceration, and harm reduction programs, and HIV care and practice for women living with HIV. Programs and policies that address high levels of violence remain critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika S. Ohtsuka
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kate Shannon
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Alyssa Zucchet
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Andrea Krüsi
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Brittany Bingham
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Desire King
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Tara Axl-Rose
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Kathleen N. Deering
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Langwenya N, Toska E, Stöckl H, Cluver L. Which groups are most affected by sexual violence? A disaggregated analysis by sex, age, and HIV-status of adolescents living in South Africa. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022:105981. [PMID: 36473807 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estimates on sexual violence (SV) among adolescents are rarely disaggregated by key indicators. OBJECTIVE We examine the independent effects of sex, age, HIV status and mode of HIV acquisition on the exposure to SV using generalised estimating equations models and proportional hazard model. PARTICIPANT AND SETTING Data from a 4-year prospective cohort study of 1447 adolescents (ages 10-19, 57% girls, 76% living with HIV) in South Africa. METHODS We describe the lifetime prevalence of three forms of SV: non-contact (unwanted showing of private parts), contact (coerced sexual debut, attempted and completed forced penetrative or oral sex,) and exploitative (sex in exchange for goods/money). RESULTS Overall, 23.9% (95%CI = 21.7%-26.1%) reported exposure to SV at some point in their lives: non-contact = 5.7%, contact = 9.0% and exploitative = 15.8%. While girls reported higher rates of exploitative (18.4% vs 12.3%; p < 0.001) and contact SV (12.3% vs 4.6%; p < 0.001), there were no differences in levels of non-contact SV by sex (6.5% vs 4.6%; p = 0.086). Exposure to any SV doubled in late adolescence (10-14 years = 7.0% vs ≥15 years = 31.7%; aIRR = 2.07; 95%CI = 1.82-2.37). Though level of SV were comparable between those living with HIV and those HIV-uninfected (22.9% vs 26.2%; p = 0.182), adolescents who recently acquired HIV were twice as likely to experience SV compared to adolescents who perinatally acquired HIV (42.3% vs 15.7%; aIRR = 2.03; 95%CI = 1.73-2.39). This association persisted when analysis was restricted to incidence SV during follow-up (aIRR = 1.53; 95%CI = 1.23-2.10). CONCLUSION Exposure to SV was high for both sexes, increased with age and more prevalent among adolescents who recently acquired HIV. SV prevention and response services must also be offered to boys and strengthened in HIV care services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nontokozo Langwenya
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Elona Toska
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Sociology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Heidi Stöckl
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Lucie Cluver
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Triplett NS, Roberts ST, Hartmann M, Wagner D, Reddy KR, Mathebula F, Tolley EE, Baeten JM, Palanee-Phillips T, Montgomery ET. Examining Associations Between Mental Health, IPV Exposure, HIV Risk Behaviors, and PrEP Use in South African Women: An Analysis of Data from the Charisma Study. AIDS Behav 2022; 27:2030-2040. [PMID: 36459264 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03936-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been associated with poorer mental health outcomes and increased human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors. We examine the relations between IPV, mental health symptomology (defined as psychological distress and alcohol misuse), and engagement in HIV risk behaviors among a sample of South African women who participated in a randomized controlled trial of CHARISMA, an intervention to increase women's agency to use oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) safely and consistently as well as mitigate relationship challenges. We also examined the impact of trial participation on women's mental health, as well as the impact of psychological distress on the effectiveness of the CHARISMA intervention. Mental health symptomology and IPV exposure were prevalent and associated with some HIV risk and protective behaviors. Trial participation reduced psychological distress. There was no evidence for mental health symptomology impacting the effectiveness of the CHARISMA intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah S Triplett
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Sarah T Roberts
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Miriam Hartmann
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Danielle Wagner
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Krishnaveni R Reddy
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Florence Mathebula
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Elizabeth E Tolley
- Behavioral, Epidemiological & Clinical Sciences Unit, FHI 360, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jared M Baeten
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thesla Palanee-Phillips
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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9
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Implementation Science for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV among Adolescents and Young Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review. AIDS Behav 2022; 27:7-23. [PMID: 35947233 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03770-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Despite many evidence-based adolescent and young adult (AYA) HIV interventions, few are implemented at scale in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A growing implementation science literature provides important context for scaling up AYA HIV interventions in this high HIV-burden region. This scoping review examined the use of implementation research in AYA HIV studies conducted in SSA. We searched five databases and included articles which focused on AYA (10-24 years old), addressed HIV prevention or treatment, were conducted exclusively in SSA countries, and included an implementation science outcome. We included 44 articles in 13 SSA countries. Most were in East (52.3%) and South Africa (27.3%), and half focused exclusively on HIV prevention components of the care continuum. Acceptability and feasibility were the most cited implementation science outcomes. Only four articles used an established implementation science framework. The findings informed our recommendations to guide the design, implementation, and dissemination of further studies and health policymaking.
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Prevalence and Risk Factors of PrEP Use Stigma Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Johannesburg, South Africa and Mwanza, Tanzania Participating in the EMPOWER Trial. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:3950-3962. [PMID: 35776254 PMCID: PMC9640431 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03721-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa may benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), yet stigma may limit PrEP acceptance and continuation. We examined factors associated with PrEP use stigma among 307 participants of the EMPOWER trial (2016-2018), an unblinded randomized controlled trial among HIV-negative, AGYW, aged 16-24, in South Africa and Tanzania. The 6-item, brief-PrEP use stigma scale (B-PSS) had high internal reliability. At the end of the trial, 34.2% of study participants reported any PrEP use stigma. Three latent classes were observed, reflecting low (46.9%), medium (31.9%), and high (21.2%) reported PrEP use stigma. Disclosure of PrEP use to sexual partner and belief that PrEP prevents HIV were associated with less reported PrEP use stigma. Conversely, participants who reported fear and shame about people living with HIV were more likely to report PrEP use stigma. Our validated tool and findings will enable practitioners to identify AGYW at high risk of PrEP use stigma who may benefit from additional support.Pan African clinical trials registry PACTR202006754762723, 5 April 2020, retrospectively registered.
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Intimate partner violence and oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence among young African women. AIDS 2022; 36:1151-1159. [PMID: 35579012 PMCID: PMC9486991 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the effect of intimate partner violence (IPV) on oral PrEP adherence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). DESIGN We conducted a secondary analysis of data from HIV Prevention Trials Network 082 (HPTN 082), a multisite prospective study designed to assess oral PrEP adherence among AGYW in southern Africa. METHODS We estimated the relative prevalence of high PrEP adherence 3 and 6 months after initiation among AGYW 16-25 years who reported a history of any IPV in the past year at enrollment versus AGYW who did not, both overall and by age. High adherence was defined as an intracellular tenofovir-diphosphate concentration at least 700 fmol/punch in dried blood spots. RESULTS Among 409 PrEP-initiating AGYW, half (49%) reported experiencing any IPV by a current/recent partner in the year prior to enrollment. Overall, a similar proportion of AGYW who reported IPV had high PrEP adherence at months 3 and 6 as AGYW who did not report IPV. There was, however, evidence of effect modification by age at month 3: among AGYW less than 21 years, those who reported IPV were less than half as likely to have high adherence [adjusted PR (aPR) = 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22-0.86]; among AGYW aged 21 years, those who reported IPV were more than twice as likely to have high adherence (aPR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.34-3.66). At month 6, effect estimates within each age stratum were consistent in direction to those at month 3. CONCLUSION IPV events may either impede or motivate PrEP adherence among African AGYW, with age appearing to be an important consideration for IPV-related adherence interventions.
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