Application of a Multisite Empowerment Evaluation Approach to Increase Evaluation Capacity Among HIV Services Providers: Results From Project Pride in Chicago

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-S5
Author(s):  
Lauren B. Beach ◽  
Emma Reidy ◽  
Rachel Marro ◽  
Amy K. Johnson ◽  
Peter Lindeman ◽  
...  

In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded Project PrIDE, a national initiative to implement and evaluate demonstration projects to increase PrEP uptake among HIV-negative individuals and to re-engage HIV-positive individuals in HIV care. Our team served as the Evaluation Center for Project PrIDE organizations in Chicago and used an empowerment evaluation (EE) approach to enhance evaluation capacity at these organizations. To evaluate our approach, we assessed organizations' evaluation capacity and engagement in technical assistance and capacity building activities in 2016 and 2018. Respondents who self-reported higher engagement with the Evaluation Center and who spent a greater number of hours engaged with our evaluators experienced greater increases in evaluation capacity tied to implementation of evaluation activities and technical assistance utilization. These findings demonstrate that multisite EE can be successfully applied to increase the evaluation capacity of organizations providing both HIV prevention and care services.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafte Kahsay Kebede ◽  
Lillian Mwanri ◽  
Paul Ward ◽  
Hailay Abrha Gesesew

Abstract Background It is known that ‘drop out’ from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, the so called lost-to-follow-up (LTFU) occurs to persons enrolled in HIV care services. However, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the risk factors for the LTFU are not well understood. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors for LTFU among adults living with HIV in SSA. A systematic search of literature using identified keywords and index terms was conducted across five databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science. We included quantitative studies published in English from 2002 to 2019. The Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-MAStARI) was used for methodological validity assessment and data extraction. Mantel Haenszel method using Revman-5 software was used for meta-analysis. We demonstrated the meta-analytic measure of association using pooled odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) and heterogeneity using I2 tests. Results Thirty studies met the search criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Predictors of LTFU were: demographic factors including being: (i) a male (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3, I2 = 59%), (ii) between 15 and 35 years old (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.3, I2 = 0%), (iii) unmarried (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.2–1.3, I2 = 21%), (iv) a rural dweller (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.5–2.7, I2 = 40%), (v) unemployed (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.04–1.4, I2 = 58%); (vi) diagnosed with behavioral factors including illegal drug use(OR = 13.5, 95% CI 7.2–25.5, I2 = 60%), alcohol drinking (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.9–4.4, I2 = 39%), and tobacco smoking (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.6–4.3, I2 = 74%); and clinical diagnosis of mental illness (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.2–5.2, I2 = 1%), bed ridden or ambulatory functional status (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.1, I2 = 74%), low CD4 count in the last visit (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.9, I2 = 75%), tuberculosis co-infection (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.02–1.4, I2 = 66%) and a history of opportunistic infections (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.7–2.8, I2 = 75%). Conclusions The current review identifies demographic, behavioral and clinical factors to be determinants of LTFU. We recommend strengthening of HIV care services in SSA targeting the aforementioned group of patients. Trial registration Protocol: the PROSPERO Registration Number is CRD42018114418


Author(s):  
Oluwafemi Adeagbo ◽  
Kammila Naidoo

Men, especially young men, have been consistently missing from the HIV care cascade, leading to poor health outcomes in men and ongoing transmission of HIV in young women in South Africa. Although these men may not be missing for the same reasons across the cascade and may need different interventions, early work has shown similar trends in men’s low uptake of HIV care services and suggested that the social costs of testing and accessing care are extremely high for men, particularly in South Africa. Interventions and data collection have hitherto, by and large, focused on men in relation to HIV prevention in women and have not approached the problem through the male lens. Using the participatory method, the overall aim of this study is to improve health outcomes in men and women through formative work to co-create male-specific interventions in an HIV-hyper endemic setting in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome T. Galea ◽  
Stephanie Marhefka ◽  
Segundo R. León ◽  
Guitele Rahill ◽  
Elena Cyrus ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTDepression disproportionally affects people at risk of acquiring or living with HIV and is associated with worse health outcomes; however, depression care is not routinely integrated with HIV prevention and treatment services. Selection of the best depression intervention(s) for integration depends both on the prevalence and severity of depression among potential users. To inform depression care integration in a community-based setting in Lima, Peru, we retrospectively analyzed routinely collected depression screening data from men who have sex with men and transgender women seeking HIV prevention and care services (N=185). Depression was screened for using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Prevalence of any depression (PHQ-9 ≥5) was 42% and was significantly associated with the last sexual partner being “casual” (p=0.01). Most (81%) depressive symptoms were mild to moderate (≥5 PHQ-9 ≤14). Integrating depression care with HIV prevention and treatment services in Peru should begin by implementing interventions targeting mild to moderate depression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S525-S525
Author(s):  
Smitha Gudipati ◽  
Monica Lee ◽  
Indira Brar ◽  
Norman Markowitz

Abstract Background The COVID-19 Pandemic led to many restrictions in health care services, and as a consequence, an expansion of telehealth capabilities. In order to meet the needs of PLWH along the Care Continuum, we developed a process to promote the use of our MyChart app. This HIPAA-compliant app allows patients to view their medical records, communicate with their providers, make appointments, and have video visits on their smart devices. This report describes our preliminary findings. Methods PLWH enrolled in the Ryan White Program, in the Infectious Diseases Clinic at Henry Ford Hospital who had not used telehealth services were asked to sign up for our MyChart (electronic medical record software) initiative. A telehealth Navigator interviewed and taught PLWH how to download and use MyChart, and supplied pre-loaded phones, as needed, to make virtual visits accessible. We collected demographic and clinical information and reasons for not using telehealth services. Results From October 2020 to May 2021, 209 PLWH were enrolled into our pilot program (Table 1). Of these: 48% were 45-64 years old (yo), while 21% were >/+ 60 yo and 3% < 25 yo; 75% were male, 85% Black; 48% MSM, and 84% virally suppressed (HIV RNA < 200 copies/mm3). When asked why they were not using telehealth services, 29% reported a lack of technology or capability to install MyChart on their phones, 27% needed further education, and 18% and had not prioritized installation of the application. Conclusion The crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a new role for telehealth services. Although available to all PLWH in our RW program, many had never used telehealth services. Over half lacked compatible devices or needed help to download or use the app. Compared to younger PLWH, older individuals were more likely to need assistance. Further work is needed to understand and promote digital parity. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


Author(s):  
Hailay Gesesew ◽  
Paul Ward ◽  
Kifle Woldemichael ◽  
Lillian Mwanri

Ethiopia’s performance toward the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets is low. The present study explored interventions to improve delayed HIV care presentation (first 90), poor retention (second 90) and clinical and immunological failure (third 90). We employed a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews with 10 HIV patients, nine health workers, 11 community advocates and five HIV program managers. Ethical approvals were obtained from Australia and Ethiopia. The following were suggested solutions to improve HIV care and treatment to meet the three 90s: (i) strengthening existing programs including collaboration with religious leaders; (ii) implementing new programs such as self-HIV testing, house-to-house HIV testing, community antiretroviral therapy (ART) distribution and teach-test-treat-link strategy; (iii) decentralizing and integrating services such as ART in health post and in private clinics, and integrating HIV care services with mental illness and other non-communicable diseases; and (iv) filling gaps in legislation in issues related with HIV status disclosure and traditional healing practices. In conclusion, the study suggested important solutions for improving delayed HIV care presentation, attrition, and clinical and immunological failure. A program such as the teach-test-treat-link strategy was found to be a cross-cutting intervention to enhance the three 90s. We recommend further nationwide research before implementing the interventions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 318-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Phillips ◽  
Peter Lindeman ◽  
Christian N. Adames ◽  
Emily Bettin ◽  
Christopher Bayston ◽  
...  

HIV continues to significantly impact the health of communities, particularly affecting racially and ethnically diverse men who have sex with men and transgender women. In response, health departments often fund a number of community organizations to provide each of these subgroups with comprehensive and culturally responsive services. To this point, evaluators have focused on individual interventions but have largely overlooked the complex environment in which these interventions are implemented, including other programs funded to do similar work. The Evaluation Center was funded by the City of Chicago in 2015 to conduct a citywide evaluation of all HIV prevention programming. This article will describe our novel approach to adapt the principles and methods of the empowerment evaluation approach, to effectively engage with 20 city-funded prevention programs to collect and synthesize multisite evaluation data, and ultimately build capacity at these organizations to foster a learning-focused community.


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