Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
We evaluated a couple-based intervention targeting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care needs of women, with the option to support HIV-related needs of male partners. Adult women with HIV adherence difficulties in a monogamous relationship with a male partner for ≥6 months were recruited in KwaZu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582241307694 |
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| author | Jennifer M. Belus PhD Alastair van Heerden PhD Abigail C. Hines MPH Thembelihle P. Pita MCom Yvonne Mdakane MSS Jessica F. Magidson PhD Heidi van Rooyen PhD Ruanne V. Barnabas MBChB, PhD |
| author_facet | Jennifer M. Belus PhD Alastair van Heerden PhD Abigail C. Hines MPH Thembelihle P. Pita MCom Yvonne Mdakane MSS Jessica F. Magidson PhD Heidi van Rooyen PhD Ruanne V. Barnabas MBChB, PhD |
| author_sort | Jennifer M. Belus PhD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We evaluated a couple-based intervention targeting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care needs of women, with the option to support HIV-related needs of male partners. Adult women with HIV adherence difficulties in a monogamous relationship with a male partner for ≥6 months were recruited in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Twenty couples were randomized (1:1) to either START Together, a five-session manualized behavioral intervention, or treatment as usual, adherence counseling referral. Assessments were completed at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up. Of the ten couples randomized to START Together, 70% attended at least one intervention session (feasibility); of those, 71% attended all five sessions (acceptability). Independently rated interventionist fidelity was very high ( M ≥ 2.94 out of 3). Women's self-reported antiretroviral therapy adherence increased similarly in both interventions. For men, self-reported antiretroviral therapy adherence increased up to 25 percentage points in START Together, but not treatment as usual. Findings suggest that START Together may be potentially beneficial for improving HIV outcomes for men. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b2db97ea2394e47982cbb68c564bc97 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2325-9582 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b2db97ea2394e47982cbb68c564bc972025-01-28T12:03:33ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care2325-95822025-01-012410.1177/23259582241307694Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled TrialJennifer M. Belus PhD0Alastair van Heerden PhD1Abigail C. Hines MPH2Thembelihle P. Pita MCom3Yvonne Mdakane MSS4Jessica F. Magidson PhD5Heidi van Rooyen PhD6Ruanne V. Barnabas MBChB, PhD7 University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland SAMRC/WITS Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Department of Psychology, , College Park, MD, USA Centre for Community Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Centre for Community Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Center for Substance Use, Addiction, and Health Research (CESAR), , College Park, MD, USA The Impact Centre, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USAWe evaluated a couple-based intervention targeting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care needs of women, with the option to support HIV-related needs of male partners. Adult women with HIV adherence difficulties in a monogamous relationship with a male partner for ≥6 months were recruited in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Twenty couples were randomized (1:1) to either START Together, a five-session manualized behavioral intervention, or treatment as usual, adherence counseling referral. Assessments were completed at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up. Of the ten couples randomized to START Together, 70% attended at least one intervention session (feasibility); of those, 71% attended all five sessions (acceptability). Independently rated interventionist fidelity was very high ( M ≥ 2.94 out of 3). Women's self-reported antiretroviral therapy adherence increased similarly in both interventions. For men, self-reported antiretroviral therapy adherence increased up to 25 percentage points in START Together, but not treatment as usual. Findings suggest that START Together may be potentially beneficial for improving HIV outcomes for men.https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582241307694 |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer M. Belus PhD Alastair van Heerden PhD Abigail C. Hines MPH Thembelihle P. Pita MCom Yvonne Mdakane MSS Jessica F. Magidson PhD Heidi van Rooyen PhD Ruanne V. Barnabas MBChB, PhD Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care |
| title | Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | couple based intervention to improve hiv care engagement for women and their partners in kwazulu natal south africa outcomes of a pilot randomized controlled trial |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582241307694 |
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