Hand in Hand: An Intervention Taking Heterosexual Couples Through the HIV Care Cascade Together

“I think it’s communication and trust and sharing everything”: Qualitative evidence for a model of healthy intimate relationships in Black women living with HIV and men in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa

“…Based on findings from this study, this could involve helping couples plan activities to engage in together, a common strategy in behavioural couple interventions (Baucom et al, 2008 ), as well as ways for partners to show that the relationship is a priority. This also builds upon theoretical research that suggests the emotional component of couples’ relationships must be addressed in African couples (Thomas & Cole, 2009 ) and includes suggestions for how to work with couples around HIV to address the central emotional aspects such as trust and intimacy (Belus, 2020 ).…”

Supporting Treatment for Anti-Retroviral Therapy (START) Together: Protocol for a pilot, randomized, couple-based intervention to promote women's ART adherence and men's engagement in HIV care in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…The 5-session intervention is based on the principles of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) applied to HIV treatment [ 7 ] and Life Steps for ART adherence [ 23 ]. CBCT is behavioral therapy approach focused on skills training in order for couples to improve communication and problem-solving skills, with the ultimate goal of improved relationship functioning [ 24 ].…”

“…One promising intervention approach to improve HIV outcomes in South Africa and other similar settings is the use of couple-based interventions (CBIs), where both partners in a relationship (typically romantic relationship, though other dyads are possible) attend and participate in treatment together. Theoretical frameworks that underlie CBIs for HIV or other health issues generally assume that improved health occurs in part through improvements in the dyad's functioning [ [6] , [7] , [8] ]. Crepaz and colleagues (2015) showed in a meta-analysis that CBIs were more efficacious than individual-based interventions (where only one person participated) in improving a number of HIV-related outcomes [ 9 ].…”

Multilevel strategies to end HIV for young couples in Cape Town: Study protocol for a cluster randomized trial

“…The highest HIV incidence among women in South Africa occurs during young adulthood, often in the context of primary partnerships characterized by AOD use, condomless sex, and outside sexual partnerships [8,13]. Consequently, engaging male partners in the HIV continuum is crucial to support HIV prevention efforts [14,15]. While previous research has focused on age-disparate or intergenerational sexual relationships, there is a need to address the health and behaviors of primary male partners in tandem with young women [16,17].…”

“…Couples-based interventions have demonstrated efficacy in improving ART adherence and show promise in enhancing PrEP adherence [18,19]. By involving both partners, these interventions can effectively reduce HIV transmission [14,20,21]. For example, the original Couples Health CoOp (CHC), an empowerment-based intervention developed for young couples in South African, addressed AOD use, GBV, and sexual risk within relationships [22].…”