Feasibility Analysis of an Evidence-Based Positive Prevention Intervention for Youth Living With HIV/AIDS in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

We evaluated the feasibility of a Positive Prevention intervention adapted for youth living with HIV/AIDS (YLWH) ages 15–24 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. We conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with intervention facilitators and YLWH participants on the following four areas of a feasibility framework: acceptability, implementation, adaptation, and limited-efficacy. The adapted intervention was suitable, satisfying, and attractive to program facilitators and participants and able to be implemented effectively. It performed well with a new population and showed preliminary efficacy. However, we identified certain aspects of the intervention that must be addressed prior to wider implementation such as: (1) including more content on navigating marriage while living with HIV and disclosure; (2) adjusting intervention timing and session length; and (3) simplifying the more complicated content. An adapted evidence-based intervention was found to be feasible and lessons learned can be applied to YLWH in other low-resource settings.

Interventions targeting sexual and reproductive health and rights outcomes of young people living with HIV: a comprehensive review of current interventions from sub-Saharan Africa

“…Social cognitive theory builds on CBT, but also includes the concept of self-efficacy ( 45 ). Three interventions also used psychosocial support as a theoretical approach to change ( 46 – 48 ). Psychosocial support theories recognise that people are likely to have better health and improve their decisions if they feel supported by liked and trusted peers or family members ( 45 ).…”

“…All interventions were group-based in delivery, but few described whether these were separated by sex, age, or nature of HIV-acquisition, despite variations in SRH needs and experiences ( 18 , 19 ). Parker et al ( 48 ) used same sex groups, whereas Mupambireyi et al ( 47 ) in Zimbabwe described dividing intervention groups across three distinct age categories ( 47 ). Three of the six interventions targeted youth who acquired HIV vertically ( 46 , 47 , 49 ), whereas it was unclear for the other interventions.…”

Adaptation of a U.S. evidence-based Positive Prevention intervention for youth living with HIV/AIDS in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

“…As of April 2012, the program had served more than 2146 HIV-positive patients and currently following 191 YLWH aged 15–24. The adapted intervention was implemented with young men ( n = 6) and young women ( n = 7) between 15 and 20 years of age (Parker et al, submitted for publication). …”

“…For the purposes of the pilot study, data were collected on the following four areas of the Bowen Feasibility Framework: acceptability, implementation, adaptation, and limited-efficacy testing. The results of the analysis of the pilot test of the SYMPA intervention will be reported in an upcoming manuscript (Parker et al, submitted for publication). …”

“…The adapted intervention was assessed for feasibility using an innovative feasibility analysis framework (Bowen et al, 2009). Findings, reported in a separate manuscript, showed that the adapted intervention was suitable, satisfying, and attractive to both program facilitators and participants, was able to be implemented effectively, performed well with a new population, and showed preliminary efficacy (Parker et al, submitted for publication). …”