Evaluation of short message service and peer navigation to improve engagement in HIV care in South Africa: study protocol for a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In countries with a high burden of HIV, such as South Africa, where the epidemic remains the world's largest, improving early uptake of and consistent adherence to antiretroviral therapy could bring substantial HIV prevention gains. However, patients are not linked to or retained in care at rates needed to curtail the epidemic. Two strategies that have demonstrated a potential to stem losses along the HIV care cascade in the sub-Saharan African context are use of text messaging or short message service (SMS) and peer-navigation services.

Methods/design

We designed a cluster randomized trial to assess the efficacy of an SMS intervention and a peer-navigation intervention to improve retention in care and treatment, timely linkage to care and treatment, medication ad

SUBMITTER: Lippman SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4744624 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature