Adapting a US-Based Evidence-Based HIV Prevention Intervention for the South African Context

Abstract

Eban, a culturally tailored HIV risk reduction intervention for African American HIV-serodiscordant couples, has demonstrated efficacy and effectiveness in the USA, and holds promise for adaptation and implementation in other countries. In this study, Eban was adapted to suit the South African cultural context and then Eban South Africa was delivered to a group of HIV-serodiscordant couples in Durban, South Africa. Given recent interest in cross-cultural adaptation of evidence-based interventions, this paper describes the adaptations that were made as well as couples’ and facilitators’ experiences of the intervention and the implementation process. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to obtain a comprehensive understanding of adaptation and implementation processes. The overall response to this couples-based HIV risk reduction intervention adapted for use in another cultural context was favourable, especially because adaptations were made to address local cultural norms and participants’ preferences. Comparison with similar interventions will guide further adaptations to the intervention.