Abstract
IntroductionSerodiscordant couples are a priority population for delivery of new HIV prevention interventions in Africa. An integrated strategy of delivering time‐limited, oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to uninfected partners in serodiscordant couples as a bridge to long‐term antiretroviral treatment (ART) for infected partners has been implemented in East Africa, nearly eliminating new infections. We conducted a qualitative evaluation of the integrated strategy in Uganda, to better understand its success.MethodsData collection consisted of 274 in‐depth interviews with 93 participating couples, and 55 observations of clinical encounters between couples and healthcare providers. An inductive content analytic approach aimed at understanding and interpreting couples’ experiences of the integrated strategy was used to examine the data. Analysis sought to characterize: (1) key aspects of services provided; (2) what the services meant to recipients; and (3) how couples managed the integrated strategy. Themes were identified in each domain, and represented as descriptive categories. Categories were grouped inductively into more general propositions based on shared content. Propositions were linked and interpreted to explain “why the integrated strategy worked.”ResultsCouples found “couples‐focused” services provided through the integrated strategy strengthened partnered relationships threatened by the discovery of serodiscordance. They saw in services hope for “getting help” to stay together, turned joint visits to clinic into opportunities for mutual support, and experienced counselling as bringing them closer together.Couples adopted a “couples orientation” to the integrated strategy, considering the health of partners as they made decisions about initiating ART or accepting PrEP, and devising joint approaches to adherence. A couples orientation to services, grounded in strengthened partnerships, may have translated to greater success in using antiretrovirals to prevent HIV transmission.ConclusionsVarious strategies for delivering antiretrovirals for HIV prevention are being evaluated. Understanding how and why these strategies work will improve evaluation processes and strengthen implementation platforms. We highlight the role of service organization in shaping couples’ experiences of and responses to ART and PrEP in the context of the integrated strategy. Organizing services to promote positive care experiences will strengthen delivery and contribute to positive outcomes as antiretrovirals for prevention are rolled out.
Highlights
Serodiscordant couples are a priority population for delivery of new HIV prevention interventions in Africa
The Partners Demonstration Project (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT 02775929) was a prospective implementation study evaluating an integrated strategy of delivering antiretroviral treatment (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to serodiscordant couples in African public health settings [6,7]
We propose an explanation for the success of the integrated strategy in preventing HIV transmission in Ugandan serodiscordant couples taking part in the Partners Demonstration Project
Summary
HIV serodiscordant couples – in which one partner is HIVinfected and the other uninfected – are a priority population for delivery of new HIV-prevention interventions in Africa. The Partners Demonstration Project (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT 02775929) was a prospective implementation study evaluating an integrated strategy of delivering ART and PrEP to serodiscordant couples in African public health settings [6,7]. Outcomes of the Partners Demonstration Project indicate the integrated strategy is an effective, cost-effective, and implementable approach to delivering PrEP and ART to African serodiscordant couples to prevent HIV infection [6,7,10]. The evaluation is based on qualitative data It examines the organization of services and couples’ responses to address the question: Why did the integrated strategy of delivering PrEP and ART to East African discordant couples ‘work’ to prevent transmission of HIV?
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