The VUKA family program: Piloting a family-based psychosocial intervention to promote health and mental health among HIV infected early adolescents in South Africa

Abstract

An increasing number of adolescents born with HIV in South Africa are on antiretroviral treatment and have to confront complex issues related to coping with a chronic, stigmatizing and transmittable illness. Very few evidence-based mental health and health promotion programs for this population exist in South Africa. This study builds on a previous collaboratively designed and developmentally-timed family-based intervention for early adolescents (CHAMP). The study uses community-based participatory approach as part of formative research to evaluate a pilot randomized control trial at two hospitals. The paper reports on the development, feasibility and acceptability of the VUKA family-based program and its short-term impact on a range of psychosocial variables for HIV+ pre-adolescents and their caregivers. A ten session intervention of approximately 3 months duration was delivered to 65 pre-adolescents aged 10-13 years and their families. VUKA participants were noted to improve on all dimensions, including mental health, youth behaviour, HIV treatment knowledge, stigma, communication and adherence to medication. VUKA shows promise as a family-based mental and HIV prevention program for HIV+ pre-adolescents and which could be delivered by trained lay staff.

Understanding HIV Testing Behaviors of Minority Adolescents: A Health Behavior Model Analysis

“…Participants reported specific barriers that influenced their HIV testing practices, including: being treated with respect by health care providers, assurance of confidentiality, and family support, which was similar to the findings in other studies (Hampanda, Ybarra, & Bull, 2014). However, further research still needs to be conducted to fully understand these barriers.…”

Psychological distress among Ugandan adolescents living with HIV: Examining stressors and the buffering role of general and religious coping strategies

“…Resilience or life skills trainings and interventions utilizing cognitive-based therapy could equip ALHIV with the skills to modify their feelings or thoughts regarding stressful stimuli. These interventions are effective in reducing psychological distress among youth living with HIV in high-income countries (Bhana et al, 2014;Naar-King, Parsons, Murphy, Kolmodin, & Harris, 2010) and un-infected (Kerrigan et al, 2011;Parker et al, 2011). However, only a few psychosocial interventions have been tested or validated for adolescents in SSA (Bhana et al, 2014) but none has been validated in Uganda.…”

“…These interventions are effective in reducing psychological distress among youth living with HIV in high-income countries (Bhana et al, 2014;Naar-King, Parsons, Murphy, Kolmodin, & Harris, 2010) and un-infected (Kerrigan et al, 2011;Parker et al, 2011). However, only a few psychosocial interventions have been tested or validated for adolescents in SSA (Bhana et al, 2014) but none has been validated in Uganda. As such, future studies should explore developing or adapting existing interventions to address the psychosocial needs of Ugandan ALHIV.…”

Optimizing ART Adherence: Update for HIV Treatment and Prevention

“…The 10-session VUKA (“Let’s wake up” in isiZulu) family program [47], adapted from the CHAMP and CHAMPSA interventions [48, 49] for South Africa, is a family-based behavioral intervention for early adolescents perinatally-infected with HIV to promote positive health. VUKA relies on a cartoon-based story-line that presents adolescents and their families with important information about HIV disease, HIV transmission, HIV treatment and adherence, disclosing one’s HIV status, AIDS-related loss and bereavement, coping with HIV, stigma and discrimination and child-caregiver communication, puberty, identifying and developing strategies to promote safe sex, and social support.…”