Impact of SMS and peer navigation on retention in HIV care among adults in South Africa: results of a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Few interventions have demonstrated improved retention in care for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. We tested the efficacy of two personal support interventions - one using text messaging (SMS-only) and the second pairing SMS with peer navigation (SMS+PN) - to improve HIV care retention over one year.

Methods

In a cluster randomized control trial (NCT# 02417233) in North West Province, South Africa, we randomized 17 government clinics to three conditions: SMS-only (6), SMS+PN (7) or standard of care (SOC; 4). Participants at SMS-only clinics received appointment reminders, biweekly healthy living messages and twice monthly SMS check-ins. Participants at SMS+PN clinics received SMS appointment reminders and healthy living messages and spoke a

SUBMITTER: Steward WT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8387209 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature