Video-Based Intervention for Improving Maternal Retention and Adherence to HIV Treatment: Patient Perspectives and Experiences

Steven Masiano, Edwin Machine, Mtisunge Mphande, Christine Markham, Tapiwa Tembo, Mike Chitani, Angella Mkandawire, Alick Mazenga, Saeed Ahmed and Maria Kim
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Steven Masiano: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, PBAG B397, Lilongwe, Malawi
Edwin Machine: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, PBAG B397, Lilongwe, Malawi
Mtisunge Mphande: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, PBAG B397, Lilongwe, Malawi
Christine Markham: Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Research, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Tapiwa Tembo: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, PBAG B397, Lilongwe, Malawi
Mike Chitani: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, PBAG B397, Lilongwe, Malawi
Angella Mkandawire: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, PBAG B397, Lilongwe, Malawi
Alick Mazenga: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, PBAG B397, Lilongwe, Malawi
Saeed Ahmed: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, PBAG B397, Lilongwe, Malawi
Maria Kim: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, PBAG B397, Lilongwe, Malawi

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: VITAL Start is a video-based intervention aimed to improve maternal retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Malawi. We explored the experiences of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLHIV) not yet on ART who received VITAL Start before ART initiation to assess the intervention’s acceptability, feasibility, fidelity of delivery, and perceived impact. Between February and September 2019, we conducted semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of 34 PWLHIV within one month of receiving VITAL Start. The participants reported that VITAL Start was acceptable and feasible and had good fidelity of delivery. They also reported that the video had a positive impact on their lives, encouraging them to disclose their HIV status to their sexual partners who, in turn, supported them to adhere to ART. The participants suggested using a similar intervention to provide health-related education/counseling to people with long term conditions. Our findings suggest that video-based interventions may be an acceptable, feasible approach to optimizing ART retention and adherence amongst PWLHIV, and they can be delivered with high fidelity. Further exploration of the utility of low cost, scalable, video-based interventions to address health counseling gaps in sub-Saharan Africa is warranted.

Keywords: VITAL Start; HIV; adherence; retention; Malawi; sub-Saharan Africa; acceptability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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