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Weiser SD, Sheira LA, Weke E, Zakaras JM, Wekesa P, Frongillo EA, Burger RL, Mocello AR, Thirumurthy H, Dworkin SL, Tsai AC, Kahn JG, Butler LM, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR. An agricultural livelihood intervention is associated with reduced HIV stigma among people with HIV. AIDS 2024; 38:1553-1559. [PMID: 38752558 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE HIV stigma undermines antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence and viral suppression. Livelihood interventions may target drivers of negative attitudes towards people with HIV (PWH) by improving their health and strengthening their economic contributions. We examined the effects of a multisectoral agricultural livelihood intervention on HIV stigma among PWH in western Kenya. DESIGN Sixteen health facilities were randomly allocated (1 : 1) to intervention or control arms in Shamba Maisha , a cluster randomized controlled trial that aimed to improve HIV-related health through behavioral, mental health, and nutritional pathways. METHODS The intervention included a farming loan and agricultural and financial training. Participants had access to farmland and surface water and were at least 18 years old, on ART for more than 6 months, and moderately-to-severely food insecure. We measured internalized, anticipated, and enacted HIV stigma semiannually over 2 years using validated scales. In blinded intent-to-treat analyses, we compared changes in scores over 24 months by study arm, using longitudinal multilevel difference-in-differences linear regression models that accounted for clustering. RESULTS Of 720 enrolled participants (354 intervention), 55% were women, and the median age was 40 years [interquartile range 34-47 years]. Two-year retention was 94%. Compared with the control arm, the intervention resulted in significant decreases ( P < 0.001) of 0.42 points [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.52 to -0.31) in internalized stigma, 0.43 points (95% CI -0.51 to -0.34) in anticipated stigma, and 0.13 points (95% CI -0.16 to -0.09) in enacted stigma over 24 months. CONCLUSION The agricultural livelihood intervention reduced HIV stigma among PWH. Poverty-reduction approaches may be a novel strategy for reducing HIV stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheri D Weiser
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lila A Sheira
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elly Weke
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jennifer M Zakaras
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pauline Wekesa
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Edward A Frongillo
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, Discovery I, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
| | - Rachel L Burger
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Adrienne Rain Mocello
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Harsha Thirumurthy
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Blockley Hall, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Shari L Dworkin
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WA
| | - Alexander C Tsai
- Center for Global Health and Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - James G Kahn
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Lisa M Butler
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Bukusi
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Craig R Cohen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Ibrahima D, Hallee W, Margeret M, Hari I, Gugulethu T, Amanda F, Jacob B, Serena P K, Kennedy O, Ingrid T K. A Risk Prediction Model to Identify People Living with HIV Who are High-risk for Disengagement from Care after HIV Diagnosis in South Africa. AIDS Behav 2024:10.1007/s10461-024-04430-y. [PMID: 38985402 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04430-y] [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] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
The provision of ART in South Africa has transformed the HIV epidemic, resulting in an increase in life expectancy by over 10 years. Despite this, nearly 2 million people living with HIV are not on treatment. The objective of this study was to develop and externally validate a practical risk assessment tool to identify people with HIV (PWH) at highest risk for attrition from care after testing. A machine learning model incorporating clinical and psychosocial factors was developed in a primary cohort of 498 PWH. LASSO regression analysis was used to optimize variable selection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to build a model using 80% of the primary cohort as a training dataset and validated using the remaining 20% of the primary cohort and data from an independent cohort of 96 participants. The risk score was developed using the Sullivan and D'Agostino point based method. Of 498 participants with mean age 35.7 years, 192 (38%) did not initiate ART after diagnosis. Controlling for site, factors associated with non-engagement in care included being < 35 years, feeling abandoned by God, maladaptive coping strategies using alcohol or other drugs, no difficulty concentrating, and having high levels of confidence in one's ability to handle personal challenges. An effective risk score can enable clinicians and implementers to focus on tailoring care for those most in need of ongoing support. Further research should focus on potential strategies to enhance the generalizability and evaluate the implementation of the proposed risk prediction model in HIV treatment programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - McNairy Margeret
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Centre for Global Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, NY, USA
| | - Iyer Hari
- Section of Cancer Epidemiology and Health Outcomes, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Tshabalala Gugulethu
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Fata Amanda
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bor Jacob
- Department of Global Health and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Koenig Serena P
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Otwombe Kennedy
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Katz Ingrid T
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Ngcobo SJ, Makhado L, Sehularo LA. HIV Care Profiling and Delivery Status in the Mobile Health Clinics of eThekwini District in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa: A Descriptive Evaluation Study. NURSING REPORTS 2023; 13:1539-1552. [PMID: 37987408 PMCID: PMC10661302 DOI: 10.3390/nursrep13040129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile health clinics (MHCs) serve as an alternative HIV care delivery method for the HIV-burdened eThekwini district. This study aimed to describe and profile the HIV care services provided by the MHCs through process evaluation. A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative evaluation study was performed on 137 MHCs using total population sampling. An online data collection method using a validated 50-item researcher-developed instrument was administered to professional nurses who are MHC team leaders, following ethical approval from the local university and departments of health. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The results described that HIV care services are offered in open spaces (43%), community buildings (37%), solid built buildings called health posts (15%), vehicles (9%), and tents (2%) with no electricity (77%), water (55%), and sanitation (64%). Adults (97%) are the main recipients of HIV care in MHCs (90%) offering antiretroviral therapy (95%). Staff, monitoring, and retaining care challenges were noted, with good linkage (91%) and referral pathways (n = 123.90%). In conclusion, the standardization and prioritization of HIV care with specific contextual practice guidelines are vital.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lufuno Makhado
- Office of the Deputy Dean Research and Postgraduate Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
| | - Leepile Alfred Sehularo
- NuMIQ Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Mafikeng 2531, South Africa
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Beesham I, Issema R, Palanee-Phillips T, Onono M, Evans S, Beksinska M, Ahmed K, Kasaro MP, Batting J, Deese J, Dlamini L, Yankurije B, Thomas KK, Heffron R. ART initiation among women newly diagnosed with HIV in a contraceptive trial in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS Care 2021; 34:478-485. [PMID: 34180277 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1944601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Current guidelines recommend starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible after HIV diagnosis to reduce morbidity, mortality and onward HIV transmission. We examined factors influencing ART initiation by women who seroconverted during the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) Trial. ECHO, conducted between 2015 and 2018, enrolled HIV-negative, sexually active women, aged 16-35 years, from four African countries. Follow-up was 12-18 months, with quarterly HIV testing. Women with incident HIV infection received extensive counselling by trial staff and referral to local facilities for HIV care. Of 304 women with ≥90 days follow-up time since HIV diagnosis, 186(61.2%) initiated ART within 90 days, 69(22.7%) initiated after 90 days, and 49(16.1%) had not initiated by the end of the study. There were no statistically significant differences in characteristics among women who initiated ART ≤90 days versus those who did not. Frequent reasons for delayed or non-initiation of ART included not feeling ready to start ART and being newly diagnosed. In a large clinical trial, ART initiation was modest within 90 days of HIV diagnosis and grew to 84% with longer observation. Despite extensive counselling on the importance of early ART initiation, personal barriers delayed some women from starting ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Beesham
- MatCH Research Unit (MRU), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa
| | - Rodal Issema
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thesla Palanee-Phillips
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Maricianah Onono
- Kenya Medical Research Institute Center for Microbiology Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Shannon Evans
- MatCH Research Unit (MRU), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mags Beksinska
- MatCH Research Unit (MRU), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa
| | - Khatija Ahmed
- Setshaba Research Centre, Soshanguve, South Africa & Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Joanne Batting
- Effective Care Research Unit (ECRU), Universities of the Witwatersrand/Fort Hare/Walter Sisulu and Eastern Cape Department of Health, East London, South Africa
| | | | - Lunga Dlamini
- Family Life Association of Eswatini, Manzini, Eswatini
| | | | | | - Renee Heffron
- Department of Global Health and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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- MatCH Research Unit (MRU), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa
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