Impact of short message service and peer navigation on linkage to care and antiretroviral therapy initiation in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We examine the efficacy of short message service (SMS) and SMS with peer navigation (SMS + PN) in improving linkage to HIV care and initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Design

I-Care was a cluster randomized trial conducted in primary care facilities in North West Province, South Africa. The primary study outcome was retention in HIV care; this analysis includes secondary outcomes: linkage to care and ART initiation.

Methods

Eighteen primary care clinics were randomized to automated SMS ( n  = 7), automated and tailored SMS + PN ( n  = 7), or standard of care (SOC; n  = 4). Recently HIV diagnosed adults ( n  = 752) were recruited from October 2014 to April 2015. Those not previously linked to care ( n  = 352) contributed data to this analysis. Data ex

SUBMITTER: Lippman SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9994809 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature