Impact of an analytical treatment interruption on partners and family members of trial participants in Durban, South Africa: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

HIV cure-related research often include analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs), which are monitored pauses in antiretroviral therapy (ART) to determine whether interventions can stimulate viral control without ART. While ATIs have been conducted in high-income countries, scale-up in low-income HIV high-burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa raise unique ethical, social, and practical challenges. HIV cure-related trials focus on participants without considering the experiences of partners and family members. Here, we explore the perspectives of partners and family members, including their emotional, relational, and mental health, during an ATI-inclusive HIV cure trial conducted in Durban, South Africa.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative socio-behavioral study to

SUBMITTER: Dong KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12745266 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature