Improving Engagement in the HIV Care Cascade: A Systematic Review of Interventions Involving People Living with HIV/AIDS as Peers

Abstract

Improving patient engagement in HIV care is critical for maximizing the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART). We conducted a systematic review of studies that used HIV-positive peers to bolster linkage, retention, and/or adherence to ART. We searched articles published and indexed in Pubmed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL between 1996–2014. Peers were required to be HIV-positive. Studies were restricted to those published in English. Nine studies with n=4,658 participants met the inclusion criteria. Peer-based interventions were predominantly focused on improving adherence to ART, or evaluations of retention and adherence via viral suppression. Five (56%) were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. Overall findings were mixed on the impact of peers on ART adherence, viral suppression, and mortality. While positive effects of peer interventions on improving linkage and retention were found, there were limited studies assessing these outcomes. Additional research is warranted to demonstrate the impact of peers on linkage and retention in diverse populations.

Discontinuation from Antiretroviral Therapy: A Continuing Challenge among Adults in HIV Care in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Several studies have suggested that improving knowledge of HIV care as an intervention could influence the retention of HIV positive people[51,52]. Furthermore, according to the seek-test-treat-succeed model, literate HIV infected people[53] have the capacity to provide almost 40% of HIV service-related tasks[54] and could lead to retention and re-engagement into care[47]. …”

HIV Risk Reduction Interventions Among Substance-Abusing Reproductive-Age Women: A Systematic Review

“…Detailed explanations and evidence based rationales for each checklist item can be found in the article by Shamseer et al (2015). PRISMA and PRISMA-P have been used in other systematic reviews of HIV/AIDS-related topics (Genberg et al, 2016; Takah, Kennedy, & Johnman, 2016). …”

“…The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) tool (Genberg et al, 2016; Moher et al, 2015; Shamseer et al, 2015; Takah et al, 2016). The literature search was conducted between May 25, 2016 and June 30, 2016.…”

A Framework for Health Communication Across the HIV Treatment Continuum

“…72,77–79 Furthermore, feeling healthy or being asymptomatic 72,80–86 and belief in divine healing 81 decrease linkage to care and treatment. By contrast, treatment readiness, resulting from understanding the benefits of ART, and perceived availability of social support during treatment fosters the decision to engage in care and treatment.…”