The co-management of HIV and chronic non-communicable diseases in the Dominican Republic: A qualitative study

Wallace, Deshira D.; Then-Paulino, Amarilis; Jiménez Paulino, Gipsy; Tejada Castro, Flabia; Castro, Stephanie Daniela; Palar, Kartika; Derose, Kathryn P.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0288583

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 30 publications

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“…PWH face several barriers to achieving and maintaining medication adherence such as substance use, depression, daily life events, missing refills, side effects, and cost of transportation/medications among others [ 11 ]. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions present an equitable solution to receiving tailored care for managing a chronic disease [ 12 , 13 ].…”

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confidence: 99%

A randomized controlled trial of the dissemination of an mHealth intervention for improving health outcomes: the WiseApp for Spanish-speakers living with HIV study protocol

Olaya,

Brin,

Caraballo

et al. 2024

BMC Public Health

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Background While there is no cure for HIV, adherence to antiretroviral therapy can extend the lifespan and improve the quality of life of people with HIV. Despite the global reduction of HIV infection rates in recent years, New York City and La Romana, Dominican Republic, continue to report high infection rates among Latino populations. Many people with HIV remain virally unsuppressed in these geographic hotspots, suggesting a need for additional interventions to overcome medication adherence barriers. Tailored and culturally appropriate mobile health (mHealth) technology can be an engaging way to improve adherence. The primary objective of this trial is to test the effectiveness of an mHealth tool to improve HIV medication adherence among Spanish-speaking people living in New York City and the Dominican Republic. Methods The WiseApp study is a two-arm randomized controlled trial among 248 people with HIV across the New York and Dominican Republic sites over the course of 12 months. Participants are randomly assigned to either receive a CleverCap pill bottle that is linked to the WiseApp (intervention) or standard of care (control). All participants complete surveys at baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up visits and the study team obtains HIV-1 viral load and CD4 count results through blood draw at each study timepoint. Discussion The use of mHealth technologies to improve medication adherence among people with HIV has been implemented in recent years. Although some studies have found improvement in adherence to antiretroviral therapy in the short term, there is limited information about how these interventions improve adherence among Spanish-speaking populations. Disproportionate rates of HIV infection among Latinos in New York City suggest an existing inequitable approach in reaching and treating this population. Due to a lack of mHealth studies with Latino populations, and apps tailored to Spanish-speakers, the WiseApp study will not only demonstrate the effectiveness of this particular mHealth app but will also contribute to the mHealth research community as a whole. Trial registration This trial was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05398185) on 5/31/2022.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A randomized controlled trial of the dissemination of an mHealth intervention for improving health outcomes: the WiseApp for Spanish-speakers living with HIV study protocol

Olaya,

Brin,

Caraballo

et al. 2024

BMC Public Health

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Perceived Impacts of Urban Gardens and Peer Nutritional Counseling for People Living With HIV in the Dominican Republic

Celeste-Villalvir,

Palar,

Then-Paulino

et al. 2024

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

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Exploring feasibility and acceptability of an integrated urban gardens and peer nutritional counselling intervention for people with HIV in the Dominican Republic

Celeste-Villalvir,

Then-Paulino,

Armenta

et al. 2023

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: Food security interventions with people living with HIV (PLHIV) are needed to improve HIV outcomes. This process evaluation of a pilot intervention involving urban gardening and peer nutritional counselling with PLHIV assesses feasibility, acceptability and implementation challenges to inform scale-up. Design: Mixed methods were used, including quantitative data on intervention participation and feasibility and acceptability among participants (n 45) and qualitative data from a purposive sample of participants (n 21). Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and coded using a codebook developed iteratively. Setting: An HIV clinic in the northwest-central part of the Dominican Republic. Results: The intervention was feasible for most participants: 84 % attended a garden workshop and 71 % established an urban garden; 91 % received all three core nutritional counselling sessions; and 73 % attended the cooking workshop. The intervention was also highly acceptable: nearly, all participants (93–96 %) rated the gardening as ‘helpful’ or ‘very helpful’ for taking HIV medications, their mental/emotional well-being and staying healthy; similarly, high percentages (89–97 %) rated the nutrition counselling ‘helpful’ or ‘very helpful’ for following a healthy diet, reducing unhealthy foods and increasing fruit/vegetable intake. Garden barriers included lack of space and animals/pests. Transportation barriers impeded nutritional counselling. Harvested veggies were consumed by participants’ households, shared with neighbours and family, and sold in the community. Many emphasised that comradery with other PLHIV helped them cope with HIV-related marginalisation. Conclusion: An urban gardens and peer nutritional counselling intervention with PLHIV was feasible and acceptable; however, addressing issues of transportation, pests and space is necessary for equitable participation and benefit.

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The co-management of HIV and chronic non-communicable diseases in the Dominican Republic: A qualitative study

Cited by 3 publications

References 30 publications

A randomized controlled trial of the dissemination of an mHealth intervention for improving health outcomes: the WiseApp for Spanish-speakers living with HIV study protocol

A randomized controlled trial of the dissemination of an mHealth intervention for improving health outcomes: the WiseApp for Spanish-speakers living with HIV study protocol

Perceived Impacts of Urban Gardens and Peer Nutritional Counseling for People Living With HIV in the Dominican Republic

Exploring feasibility and acceptability of an integrated urban gardens and peer nutritional counselling intervention for people with HIV in the Dominican Republic

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