Browsing by Author "Carina Herbst"

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    Isisekelo Sempilo study protocol for the efectiveness of HIV prevention embedded in sexual health with or without peer navigator support (Thetha Nami) to reduce prevalence of transmissible HIV amongst adolescents and young adults in rural KwaZulu-Natal: a 2×2 factorial randomised controlled trial
    (2022) Glory Chidumwa; Natsayi Chimbindi; Carina Herbst; Nonhlanhla Okeselo; Jaco Dreyer; Thembelihle Zuma; Theresa Smith; Jean‑Michel Molina; Thandeka Khoza; Nuala McGrath; Janet Seeley; Deenan Pillay; Frank Tanser; Guy Harling; Lorraine Sherr; Andrew Copas; Kathy Baisley; Maryam Shahmanesh
    Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) through universal test and treat (UTT) and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) substantially reduces HIV-related mortality, morbidity and incidence. Efective individual-level prevention modalities have not translated into population-level impact in southern Africa due to sub-optimal coverage among adolescents and youth who are hard to engage. We aim to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary population level efectiveness of HIV prevention services with or without peer support to reduce prevalence of trans‑ missible HIV amongst adolescents and young adults in KwaZulu-Natal. Methods: We are conducting a 2×2 factorial trial among young men and women aged 16–29 years, randomly selected from the Africa Health Research Institute demographic surveillance area. Participants are randomly allocated to one of four intervention combinations: 1) Standard of Care (SOC): nurse-led services for HIV testing plus ART if posi‑ tive or PrEP for those eligible and negative; 2) Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH): Baseline self-collected vaginal and urine samples with study-organized clinic appointments for results, treatment and delivery of HIV testing, ART and PrEP integrated with SRH services; 3) Peer-support: Study referral of participants to a peer navigator to assess their health, social and educational needs and provide risk-informed HIV prevention, including facilitating clinic attendance; or 4) SRH+peer-support. The primary outcomes for efectiveness are: (1) the proportion of individuals with infectious HIV at 12 months and (2) uptake of risk-informed comprehensive HIV prevention services within 60 days of enrolment. At 12 months, all participants will be contacted at home and the study team will collect a dried blood spot for HIV ELISA and HIV viral load testing. Discussion: This trial will enable us to understand the relative importance of SRH and peer support in creating demand for efective and risk informed biomedical HIV prevention and preliminary data on their efectiveness on reducing the prevalence of transmissible HIV amongst all adolescents and youth. Trial registration: Trial Registry: clincialtrials.gov. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifer NCT04532307. Registered: March 2020. Keywords: Peer navigator, HIV prevention, Community-based care, Contraception, Pre-Exposure prophylaxis
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    Process evaluation of peer-to-peer delivery of HIV self-testing and sexual health information to support HIV prevention among youth in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: qualitative analysis
    (2022-01-19) Oluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo; Janet Seeley; Dumsani Gumede; Sibongiseni Xulu; Nondumiso Dlamini; Manono Luthuli; Jaco Dreyer; Carina Herbst; F Cowan; Natsayi Chimbindi; Karin Hatzold; Nonhlanhla Okesola; Cheryl Johnson; Guy Harling; Hasina Subedar; Lorraine Sherr; Nuala McGrath; Liz Corbett; Maryam Shahmanesh
    Objective: Peer-to-peer (PTP) HIV self-testing (HIVST) distribution models can increase uptake of HIV testing and potentially create demand for HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We describe the acceptability and experiences of young women and men participating in a cluster randomised trial of PTP HIVST distribution and antiretroviral/PrEP promotion in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Methods: Between March and September 2019, 24 pairs of trained peer navigators were randomised to two approaches to distribute HIVST packs (kits+HIV prevention information): incentivised-peer-networks where peer-age friends distributed packs within their social network for a small incentive, or direct distribution where peer navigators distributed HIVST packs directly. Standard-of-care peer navigators distributed information without HIVST kits. For the process evaluation, we conducted semi-structured interviews with purposively sampled young women (n=30) and men (n=15) aged 18-29 years from all arms. Qualitative data were transcribed, translated, coded manually and thematically analysed using an interpretivist approach. Results: Overall, PTP approaches were acceptable and valued by young people. Participants were comfortable sharing sexual health issues they would not share with adults. Coupled with HIVST, peer (friends) support facilitated HIV testing and solidarity for HIV status disclosure and treatment. However, some young people showed limited interest in other sexual health information provided. Some young people were wary of receiving health information from friends perceived as non-professionals while others avoided sharing personal issues with peer navigators from their community. Referral slips and youth-friendly clinics were facilitators to PrEP uptake. Family disapproval, limited information, daily pills and perceived risks were major barriers to PrEP uptake. Conclusion: Both professional (peer navigators) and social network (friends) approaches were acceptable methods to receive HIVST and sexual health information. Doubts about the professionalism of friends and overly exclusive focus on HIVST information materials may in part explain why HIVST kits, without peer navigators support, did not create demand for PrEP.
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    The association of exposure to DREAMS on sexually acquiring or transmitting HIV amongst adolescent girls and young women living in rural South Africa: A cohort study
    (2024-06-15) Nondumiso Mthiyane; Kathy Baisley; Natsayi Chimbindi; Thembelihle Zuma; Nonhlanhla Okesola; Jaco Dreyer; Carina Herbst; Theresa Smit; Siva Danaviah; Nuala McGrath; Guy Harling; Lorraine Sherr; Janet Seeley; Sian Floyd; Isolde Birdthistle; Maryam Shahmanesh
    Objective: We investigate how risk of sexually acquiring or transmitting HIV in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) changed following the real-world implementation of DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS free, Mentored and Safe) HIV prevention programme. Design: A representative population-based prospective cohort study of AGYW living in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Methods: Between 2017–2019 we interviewed a random sample of AGYW aged 13–22 annually. We measured exposure to DREAMS as self-reported receipt of an invitation to participate and/or participation in DREAMS activities that were provided by DREAMS implementing organizations. HIV and Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2) statuses were ascertained through blood tests on Dried Blood Spot (DBS). We used multivariable regression analysis to assess the association between exposure to DREAMS and risk of acquiring HIV: measured as incident HSV-2 (a proxy of sexual risk) and incident HIV; and the risk of sexually transmitting HIV: measured as being HIV positive with a detectable HIV viral load (>=50 copies per millitre (mL)) on the last available DBS. We adjusted for socio-demographic, sexual relationship, and migration. Results: 2184 (86.4%) of those eligible agreed to participate and 2016 (92.3%) provided data for at least one follow-up time-point. 1030 (54%) were exposed to DREAMS; HIV and HSV-2 incidence were 2.2/100 person-years (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.66–2.86) and 17.3/100 person-years (95%CI: 15.5–19.4) respectively. There was no evidence that HSV-2 and HIV incidence were lower in those exposed to DREAMS: adjusted rate ratio (aRR) 0.96 (95%CI: 0.76–1.23 and 0.83 (95%CI: 0.46–1.52) respectively. HIV viral load was detectable for 169 (8.9%) respondents; there was no evidence this was lower in those exposed to DREAMS with an adjusted risk difference, compared to those not exposed to DREAMS, of 0.99% [95%CI: −1.52–3.82]. Participants who lived in peri-urban/urban setting were more likely to have incident HIV and transmissible HIV. Both HSV-2 incidence and the transmissible HIV were associated with older age and ever having sex. Findings did not differ substantively by respondent age group. Conclusions: DREAMS exposure was not associated with measurable reductions in risk of sexually acquiring or transmitting HIV amongst a representative cohort of AGYW in rural South Africa.