Longitudinal Associations of Experienced and Perceived Community Stigma With Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and Viral Suppression in New-to-Care People With HIV: Mediating Roles of Internalized Stigma and Depression Symptoms

BACKGROUND

Although cross-sectional studies have suggested that HIV-related stigma and depression symptoms may result in poor HIV treatment and health outcomes, few studies have investigated potential longitudinal mechanisms in these relationships. Furthermore, longitudinal effects of HIV-related stigma on health outcomes have not been examined in people with HIV (PWH) newly initiating HIV clinical care. We examined longitudinal associations between experienced and perceived community stigma and health outcomes (antiretroviral therapy [ART] adherence and viral load), mediated by internalized stigma and depression symptoms among new-to-care PWH in the United States.

SETTING/METHODS

Data were obtained from 371 PWH who initiated HIV medical care at 4 HIV sites at baseline and 48 weeks later between December 2013 and 2018. Validated measures were used to assess experienced stigma, perceived community stigma, internalized stigma, depression symptoms, and ART adherence, and viral load was obtained from medical records at the final study visit.

RESULTS

Serial mediation models revealed significant indirect effects of experienced stigma and perceived community stigma on ART adherence and on viral suppression, first through internalized stigma and then through depression symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that PWH may tend to internalize HIV-related stigma when they experience acts of stigmatization or perceive negative attitudes in society, which in turn may result in negative effects on psychological and physical well-being. These findings about how stigma in society may be an antecedent mechanism for PWH to develop internalized stigma, which in turn affects individual health outcomes, can be used to tailor both individual-level and community-level interventions.

Phone-Delivered Intervention to Improve HIV Care for Young People Living With HIV: Trial to Inform Implementation and Utility

BACKGROUND

Phone-delivered counseling has demonstrated improved health outcomes for people living with HIV. However, counseling is hampered by a lack of guidance on the frequency and duration of intervention in relation to clinical benefits. The added benefits of bidirectional (ie, interactive) vs. unidirectional (ie, passive) text messages to augment counseling are also unknown. We conducted a clinical trial of adaptive phone counseling along with either bidirectional or unidirectional text messaging for people living with HIV.

METHODS

A community sample of 425 young people (aged 16-36 years) living with HIV in Georgia, USA, received weekly phone counseling sessions with the number of sessions determined by the participant and their counselor. Participants were subsequently randomized to either (1) weekly bidirectional text messages with their counselor or (2) weekly automated unidirectional text message reminders. Participants were followed for 16 months to assess 3 primary outcomes: antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, HIV care engagement, and HIV suppression.

RESULTS

Participants demonstrated improved clinical outcomes over the follow-up period, with 74% of those who were not taking ART initiating treatment, 65% of those on ART improving adherence, and 47% who had detectable viral loads at baseline attaining viral suppression. The number of sessions completed predicted improved ART adherence, greater care engagement, and HIV suppression over follow-ups. Bidirectional text messages impacted care engagement by moderating the effects of counseling sessions on HIV suppression.

CONCLUSIONS

Phone counseling augmented by bidirectional text messages has the potential to improve HIV care for young adults living with HIV.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary HIV Care and Psychological Health Effects of iTHRIVE 365 for Black Same Gender Loving Men

OBJECTIVES

This uncontrolled pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary HIV and psychological health effects of iTHRIVE 365, a multicomponent intervention designed by and for Black same gender loving men (SGLM) to promote: health knowledge and motivation, Black SGLM social support, affirming health care, and housing and other economic resources.

DESIGN METHODS

We conducted a 14-day daily diary study with 32 Black SGLM living with HIV connected to THRIVE SS in Atlanta, GA. Daily surveys assessed intervention engagement, antiretroviral medication (ART) use, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and emotion regulation difficulties. App paradata (ie, process data detailing app usage) assessed amount of intervention engagement via page access. Participants began receiving access to the intervention on day 7. After the 14-day daily diary period, participants responded to follow-up items on the user-friendliness, usefulness, helpfulness, and whether they would recommend iTHRIVE 365 to others. Chi-square analyses examined associations between intervention engagement and ART use, and dynamic structural equation modelling assessed longitudinal associations from intervention engagement to next-day psychological health. This intervention trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05376397).

RESULTS

On average, participants engaged with iTHRIVE 365 over once every other day and accessed intervention pages 4.65 times per day. Among participants who engaged with the intervention, 78% reported it was helpful to extremely helpful, 83% reported it was moderately to extremely useful, and 88% reported it was user-friendly and they would recommend it to others. On intervention engagement days, participants had higher odds of ART use, χ 2 (1) = 4.09, P = 0.04, than intervention nonengagement days. On days after intervention engagement, participants showed non-null decreases in depressive symptoms (τ = -0.14; 95% CI : = [-0.23, -0.05]) and emotion regulation difficulties (τ = -0.16; 95% CI : = [-0.24, -0.02]).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest iTHRIVE 365 is feasible, acceptable, and positively affects daily ART use, depressive symptoms, and emotion regulation difficulties.

Relationships Between Stress-Responsive Biomarkers, ART Adherence, and Viral Suppression Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Living With HIV in South Africa: An HPTN 068 Analysis

BACKGROUND

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) living with HIV who have higher stress levels may be at risk of stress-related biological alterations, which could influence HIV progression and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

SETTING

We aimed to estimate associations among stress-responsive biomarkers, ART adherence, and viral suppression in AGYW living with HIV in South Africa. We also hypothesized that psychosocial stressors [eg, depression, food insecurity, low socioeconomic status (SES), and HSV-2] would be associated with higher biomarker levels.

METHODS

We used 2018/2019 data from the HIV Prevention Trials Network 068 cohort to assess associations between stress-responsive biomarkers and viral suppression (<1000 copies/mL) and ART adherence measured using dried blood spot cards. Stress-responsive biomarkers included C-reactive protein, herpes simplex virus type 1, and cytomegalovirus infection and reactivation. Associations were estimated using unadjusted log-binomial or ordinal logistic regression models.

RESULTS

In 166 AGYW living with HIV, there was no association between stress-responsive biomarkers and viral suppression or ART adherence. However, increased C-reactive protein levels were associated with higher HSV-2 infection [odds ratio (OR) 1.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11, 3.52], being a government grant recipient (OR 3.21; 95% CI: 1.30, 7.92), lower food insecurity (OR 0.34; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.90), and increased body mass index (OR 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.14).

CONCLUSIONS

High prevalence of psychosocial stressors and persistent herpesviruses in AGYW living with HIV has the potential to lead to poorer health outcomes. More research is needed to untangle relationships between economic stability, chronic disease, and chronic stress.

Self-reported Antiretroviral Adherence: Association With Maternal Viral Load Suppression in Postpartum Women Living With HIV-1 From Promoting Maternal and Infant Survival Everywhere, a Randomized Controlled Trial in Sub-Saharan Africa and India

INTRODUCTION

Optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial to promoting maternal-infant health.

SETTING

Fourteen sites in 7 countries within sub-Saharan Africa and India.

METHODS

The multicomponent, open-label strategy PROMISE trial enrolled breastfeeding mother-infant pairs not meeting in-country criteria for maternal ART (mART) initiation in the postpartum component within 5 days of delivery. Randomization was to mART versus infant NVP (iNVP) prophylaxis. Infants in the mART arm also received 6 weeks of iNVP. Self-reported adherence was assessed in a secondary analysis. Time-to-event analyses were performed to explore the association between adherence and maternal viral load (mVL) in the mART arm.

RESULTS

Two thousand four hundred thirty-one mother-infant pairs were enrolled between 2011 and 2014; the baseline maternal median CD4 was 686 (IQR 553-869), and the median mVL was 322 copies/mL (IQR 40-1422). Self-reported adherence was lower in the mART arm compared with the iNVP arm (no missed doses within 4 weeks of all study visits: 66% vs 83%; within 2 weeks: 71% vs 85%; P < 0.0001). The iNVP adherence at week 6 was high in both arms: 97% in mART arm; 95% in iNVP arm. Time-to-event analyses showed that adherence to mART was associated with time to first mVL ≥400 copies/mL ( P < 0.0001). Missing 1 full day of doses over 3 days was associated with a 66% risk of mVL ≥1000 copies/mL (HR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.37, 1.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Postpartum women were less adherent to their own ART than mothers providing their infant's nevirapine prophylaxis. The self-reported missed mART doses were associated with high mVL. Strategies to optimize postpartum mART adherence are urgently needed.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01061151; closed to follow-up.

Results of the Kigali Imbereheza Project: A 2-Arm Individually Randomized Trial of TI-CBT Enhanced to Address ART Adherence and Mental Health for Rwandan Youth Living With HIV

BACKGROUND

Adolescents living with HIV have elevated mental distress and suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence.

SETTING

Two urban clinics in Kigali, Rwanda.

METHODS

A 2-arm individual randomized controlled trial compared Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy enhanced to address HIV (TI-CBTe) with usual care (time-matched, long-standing, unstructured support groups) with 356 12- to 21-year-old (M = 16.78) Rwandans living with HIV. TI-CBTe included 6 group-based 2-hour sessions led by trained and supervised 21- to 25-year-old Rwandans living with HIV. Participants reported their ART adherence, depression/anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months.

RESULTS

ART adherence was relatively high at baseline, and youth reported elevated rates of depression/anxiety and trauma symptoms. There were no differential treatment effects on adherence, but depression/anxiety improved over time. Youth with lower depression/anxiety at baseline seemed to benefit more from TI-CBTe than usual care, whereas women with high baseline distress seemed to benefit more from usual care. Youth were less likely to score in high Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptom categories at the follow-up, with no differential treatment effects.

CONCLUSIONS

TI-CBTe did not outperform usual care on ART adherence, possibly reflecting relatively high adherence at baseline, simplified medication regimens over time, a strong comparison condition, or because youth assigned to TI-CBTe returned to their support groups after the intervention. TI-CBTe was more effective for youth with lower depression/anxiety symptoms, whereas youth with high distress benefitted more from the support groups. TI-CBTe was feasible and acceptable, and young adults living with HIV were able to deliver a mental health intervention with fidelity. The powerful nature of the comparison group, ongoing support groups, points to the potential value of locally crafted interventions in low-resource settings.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Use of HIV Care, Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence, and Viral Suppression: An Observational Cohort Study From Uganda

INTRODUCTION

Recent studies project thousands of additional AIDS-related deaths because of COVID-19-related disruptions in HIV care. However, the extent to which disruptions in care have materialized since the start of the pandemic is not well understood.

METHODS

We use electronic health records to investigate how the pandemic has affected clinic visits, patients' antiretroviral therapy (ART) supply, and viral suppression for a cohort of 14,632 HIV clients from a large HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda. We complement this with an analysis of electronically measured longitudinal ART adherence data from a subcohort of 324 clients.

RESULTS

Clinic visits decreased by more than 50% after a national lockdown started. The risk of patients running out of ART on a given day increased from 5% before the lockdown to 25% 3 months later (Relative Risk Ratio of 5.11, 95% confidence interval: 4.99 to 5.24) and remained higher than prelockdown 6 months later at 13% (Relative Risk Ratio of 2.60; 95% confidence interval: 2.52 to 2.70). There was no statistically significant change in electronically measured adherence or viral suppression.

CONCLUSION

We document substantial gaps in HIV care after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda. This suggests that measures to improve access should be explored as the pandemic persists. However, ART adherence was unaffected for the subcohort for whom we measured electronic adherence. This suggests that some clients may have stockpiles of ART tablets from previous prescriptions that allowed them to keep taking their medication even when they could not visit the clinic for ART refills.

The Effect of Various Supportive Housing Models on ART Adherence Among Persons Living With HIV in Supportive Housing

BACKGROUND

Providing permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLH) contributes to improved human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outcomes, including adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study seeks to understand whether certain components of housing, namely intensity of case management and specialized HIV housing programs, affects ART adherence for PLH in supportive housing.

METHODS

From 2015 to 2019 we conducted quantitative assessments with 157 PLH in supportive housing at baseline, 6-, 12-, and 18-month postbaseline to identify factors associated with ART adherence. General Estimating Equations for repeated measures were performed to assess bivariate and multivariate measures.

RESULTS

Two thirds of PLH in supportive housing reported 95% or greater adherence to ART. Multivariate analyses indicate that neither intensity of case management services nor specialized housing for PLH were associated with greater ART adherence. Greater time since diagnosis was positively associated with ART adherence. Greater depressive symptoms and African American race were negatively associated with ART adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Study findings reveal that although prior research has established the importance of receipt of housing for homeless PLH, the type or intensity of case management services associated with that housing may not be as important as simply being housed. Our results highlight the importance of considering mental health and more recent HIV diagnosis when developing treatment and case management plans to enhance residents' ART adherence.

Disclosure Concerns and Viral Suppression in People Newly Initiating HIV Care: The Role of Internalized HIV Stigma

BACKGROUND

Research on how disclosure concerns affect health outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH) has yielded inconsistent results. Theoretically, disclosure concerns could predict either poorer antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence (PLWH worried about disclosure may not want to take their medication in front of others) or better ART adherence (stronger concerns may enhance treatment adherence to avoid unintentional disclosure). Furthermore, internalized stigma (which is positively associated with disclosure concerns) predicts worse ART adherence (an effect potentially in the opposite direction of the direct effect of disclosure concerns).

SETTING/METHODS

One hundred eighty-six PLWH initiating HIV care at 4 US clinics completed measures of disclosure concerns, internalized stigma, and ART adherence. Viral load data were obtained from medical records. We examined the indirect effect of disclosure concerns on outcomes, adjusting for the suppressor effect of internalized stigma. That is, we examined whether the association between disclosure concerns and ART adherence/viral suppression is stronger and positive when controlling for the effect of internalized stigma.

RESULTS

Disclosure concerns were more strongly associated with better viral suppression and ART adherence when internalized stigma was in the model, suggesting that internalized stigma suppressed this association. Similarly, internalized stigma led to higher disclosure concerns, which in turn led to better ART adherence and higher likelihood of viral suppression. However, internalized stigma also had a direct effect in the opposite direction of this indirect effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of addressing effects of internalized stigma and disclosure concerns jointly when attempting to understand effects on health outcomes among new-to-care PLWH.

Patient communication tools to enhance ART adherence counseling in low and high resource settings

OBJECTIVE

Few articles have examined specific counseling tools used to increase antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. We present communication tools used in the context of Project MOTIV8, a randomized clinical trial.

METHODS

We developed, piloted, and evaluated pictorial images to communicate the importance of consistent dose timing and the concept of drug resistance. Electronic drug monitoring (EDM) review was also used to provide visual feedback and facilitate problem solving discussions. Adherence knowledge of all participants (n=204) was assessed at baseline and 48 weeks. Participant satisfaction with counseling was also assessed.

RESULTS

Adherence knowledge did not differ at baseline, however, at 48 weeks, intervention participants demonstrated significantly increased knowledge compared to controls F(1, 172)=10.76, p=0.001 (12.4% increase among intervention participants and 1.8% decrease among controls). Counselors reported that the tools were well-received, and 80% of participants felt the counseling helped them adhere to their medications.

CONCLUSIONS

Counseling tools were both positively received and effective in increasing ART adherence knowledge among a diverse population.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

While developed for research, these counseling tools can be implemented into clinical practice to help patients; particularly those with lower levels of education or limited abstract thinking skills to understand medical concepts related to ART adherence.

The role of parents and family members in ART treatment adherence: Evidence from Thailand

High levels of treatment adherence are crucial for the success of expanding ART treatment programs everywhere. Augmenting adherence through treatment supporters is one promising strategy. Most discussions focus on peers, especially members of PHA groups, for this purpose. Far less attention is given to family members and especially older age parents. Yet ART recipients often live with or nearby parents and other family members who are highly motivated to ensure the treatment's success. This study examines the extent that family members, especially parents, assist adherence in Thailand. Results indicate that most adult ART patients live with family members and over half live with or in the same locality as a parent. Family members, including parents, commonly remind ART patients to take medications, especially if coresident. Moreover, parents often remind patients to get resupplies and sometimes accompany them to appointments. Clearly close family members, including parents, should be explicitly incorporated into adherence augmentation programs and provided adequate information to facilitate their role as long-term adherence partners, not only in Thailand but wherever ART recipients are closely linked to family members through living and caregiving arrangements.