Pilot Test of a Couple-Based Medication Adherence Intervention for HIV-Positive Women and Their Male Partners in South Africa

South Africa (SA) has one of the highest global HIV burdens with clear gender disparities. For men, 57% of HIV-related deaths occur among persons who have never sought HIV care. Women, in comparison, have high rates of HIV testing and are linked to care through antenatal services, but only 45% are virally suppressed on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Thus, tailored interventions for HIV are needed. In order to end the AIDS epidemic, the ambitious "90-90-90" goal was developed by UNAIDS to test, treat, and maintain medication adherence for 73% of HIV-positive individuals. Separate gender-specific interventions have been developed along the HIV care cascade to treat the different needs of men and women. However, no study to date has used one intervention to concurrently meet the unique HIV-related needs for women and men. Couple-based interventions (CBIs) can achieve this goal. CBIs are more efficacious than interventions delivered to individuals in enhancing a number of HIV protective behaviors. HIV is also primarily transmitted in the context of stable heterosexual relationships in sub-Saharan Africa; about 50% of new infections occur in serodiscordant relationships, making the use of a CBI especially relevant. The purpose of this study is to strengthen the HIV care cascade in SA by developing a CBI that concurrently addresses the needs of women and men to meet the UNAIDS' HIV goals. This study will be conducted in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, SA. HIV-positive women who are in a heterosexual relationship and non-adherent to ART will be recruited to participate in the study with their male partners. Twenty couples will be recruited and randomized to either receive the START Together program or to the control condition and followed for 12 weeks thereafter.

Inclusion criteria

• Both partners aged 18 or over
• HIV-positive woman diagnosed ≥ 3 months prior to study entry
• HIV-positive woman demonstrates difficulty with HIV treatment engagement, defined as either self-reported ART adherence difficulties, evidence of missed clinic visits over the past year (collected from medical records), or evidence of being not virally suppressed (≥ 50 copies/mL) in the past year
• In a committed, heterosexual, monogamous romantic relationship for at least 6 months
• Both partners willing to participate in treatment to support women's ART adherence
• Both partners reside in Vulindlela, or neighboring community, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
• Willing to have intervention sessions audio-recorded (if randomized to the intervention group)
• Able to comfortably communicate in either isiZulu or English

Exclusion criteria

• Report of moderate or severe relationship violence past year
• Either partner previously participated in a couple-based HIV prevention or treatment program