Financial and Food Insecurity are Primary Challenges to Breastfeeding for Women Living with HIV in Western Kenya: A Longitudinal Qualitative Investigation.

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding for 24 months or longer is recommended for all mothers world-wide, including women living with HIV (WLWH). Given evidence of suboptimal infant feeding and the need to understand context specific barriers, we explored experiences of perinatal WLWH in Kisumu, Kenya. We applied a longitudinal qualitative approach (4 in-depth interviews) with 30 women from pregnancy to 14-18 months postpartum. Cross-sectional profiling led to a narrative description of infant feeding across time. The majority of women breastfed exclusively for 6 months and weaned by 18 months. Severe financial and food insecurity were primary challenges as women worked through when/how to breastfeed or stop breastfeeding in the setting of multiple competing priorities/pressures across time. Financial and food support and increased support for breastfeeding beyond 18 months have the potential to reduce women's stress and uncertainty associated with infant feeding as well as optimize infant health and nutrition in this setting.

RESUMEN: Se recomienda la lactancia materna exclusiva durante los primeros 6 meses y la continuación de la lactancia durante 24 meses o más para todas las madres en todo el mundo, incluidas las mujeres que viven con el VIH (WLWH). Debido a la evidencia de alimentación infantil subóptima y la necesidad de comprender las barreras específicas del contexto, exploramos las experiencias de WLWH perinatal en Kisumu, Kenia. Aplicamos un enfoque cualitativo longitudinal (4 entrevistas en profundidad) con 30 mujeres desde el embarazo hasta los 14-18 meses posparto. El perfil transversal resultó en una descripción narrativa de la alimentación infantil a través del tiempo. La mayoría de las mujeres amamantaron exclusivamente durante 6 meses y dejó de amamantar a los 18 meses. La grave inseguridad financiera y alimentaria fueron los principales desafíos cuando las mujeres analizaban cuándo y cómo amamantar o dejar de amamantar en el contexto de múltiples prioridades y presiones en competencia a través del tiempo. El apoyo financiero y alimentario y un mayor apoyo para la lactancia más allá de los 18 meses tienen el potencial de reducir el estrés y la incertidumbre de las mujeres asociados con la alimentación infantil, así como optimizar la salud y la nutrición infantil en este entorno.

Feasibility, acceptability and lessons learned from an infant feeding intervention trial among women living with HIV in western Kenya.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends mothers breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their infant's life. However, women living with HIV in low resource settings face many barriers to recommended infant feeding practices such as fear of HIV transmission and perceived milk insufficiency. Moreover, current support for breastfeeding in this context is often insufficient to overcome these barriers. To support women's infant feeding experience, we tested a personalized infant feeding support program among perinatal women living with HIV in Kenya. METHODS: Supporting Healthy Mothers is a theory and evidence-based multilevel intervention designed to address the mental health burden associated with financial and food insecurity and provide personalized support for optimal infant feeding postpartum. As part of the Supporting Healthy Mothers intervention feasibility trial, between February 23, 2022 and November 9, 2022, twenty mothers received five personalized infant feeding support sessions delivered by a local professional lactation specialist from pregnancy until three months postpartum. Through detailed observations of these sessions, clinical notes and repeated team discussions, we aimed to describe and provide a limited evaluation of these sessions. We identified the strengths and limitations of the lactation support sessions as well as areas for future development. RESULTS: Participation in the sessions was high and at three months postpartum all participants reported exclusive breastfeeding as recommended despite experiencing a myriad of challenges. Having face-to-face and frequent early postpartum sessions, being available to field participant concerns between sessions and measuring infant weights at each session were key strengths. Continuing sessions beyond three months postpartum and incorporating family planning and general maternal health counseling topics would enhance these supportive sessions. CONCLUSIONS: The personalized professional infant feeding support sessions were highly acceptable and feasible to implement. In-person sessions, in a clinic setting provided opportunities to evaluate and adjust breastfeeding technique and led to successful exclusive breastfeeding practice. Future interventions should consider integrating with other perinatal care services and offering support on demand and immediately postpartum. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Supporting Healthy Mothers was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System, posted on February 2, 2022. Identifiers: NCT05219552 Unique Protocol ID: K23MH116807.

Persistent Food Insecurity, but not HIV, is Associated with Depressive Symptoms Among Perinatal Women in Kenya: A Longitudinal Perspective.

Food insecurity (FI) is an understudied risk factor for depression among perinatal women in sub-Saharan Africa. We therefore explored the longitudinal relationship between FI and depressive symptoms among a cohort of perinatal women of mixed HIV status (n = 371) in Kenya (NCT02974972, NCT02979418). Using longitudinal linear and logistic regressions with random effects, we assessed bivariate and adjusted associations between maternal FI and depressive symptoms. HIV status was also assessed as a potential effect modifier. At baseline, 58% of pregnant women had probable depression (CES-D score > 16) and 84% were severely food insecure. In adjusted analyses, severely food-insecure women had 5.90 greater odds (95% CI 2.32, 15.02, p < 0.001) of having probable depression and scored 4.58 points higher on the CES-D scale (SE: 1.04, p < 0.001) relative to food-secure women. HIV status did not modify the association between FI and depressive symptoms. Interventions to reduce FI may reduce perinatal depression, benefiting mothers and their infants.

RESUMEN: La inseguridad alimentaria es un factor de riesgo del estrés en el periodo de posparto entre mujeres en África Sub-sahariana que es poco estudiado. Por lo tanto exploramos la relación entre la seguridad alimentaria y los síntomas de depresión con un estudio longitudinal entre un cohorte de mujeres en diferentes etapas perinatal y con diferentes estatus de VIH (n=371) en Kenia (NCT02974972, NCT02979418). Se evaluaron asociaciones bi-variadas y asociaciones ajustadas entre la inseguridad alimentaria y las síntomas de depresión usando regresión lineal y logística con efectos aleatorios. El estatus de VIH también se evaluó como modificador de efecto. Al inicio del estudio el 58% de mujeres embarazadas tenían depresión probable (CES-D score >16) y el 84% tenían un nivel de inseguridad alimentaria severa. Mujeres con un nivel de inseguridad alimentaria severa tenían mayores posibilidades del 5.90 (95% IC: 2.32, 15.02, p < 0.001) de depresión probable y una puntuación mas alta del 4.58 en el CES-D (EE: 1.04, p < 0.001) en comparación a las mujeres con un nivel de inseguridad alimentaria seguro. El estatus de VIH no modifico la asociación entre la inseguridad alimentaria y los síntomas de depresión. Intervenciones destinadas para mitigar la inseguridad alimentaria podrían reducir la depresión en el periodo perinatal, proporcionando beneficios a las mamas y sus bebes.

"I Found Out I was Pregnant, and I Started Feeling Stressed": A Longitudinal Qualitative Perspective of Mental Health Experiences Among Perinatal Women Living with HIV.

Globally, depressive symptoms among pregnant and postpartum (i.e., perinatal) women living with HIV (WLWH) are alarmingly high and associated with poor outcomes such as suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Few qualitative studies have described the experience of perinatal depression among WLWH to identify the underlying social-structural determinants of poor mental health and potential strategies to intervene. We conducted a longitudinal qualitative study applying semi-structured interviews with 30 WLWH at three timepoints (28-38 weeks pregnant, 6-weeks postpartum and 5-7 months postpartum) to understand mental health experiences of perinatal WLWH in western Kenya. Financial insecurity emerged as the central theme impacting the mental health of women across time. Financial insecurity was often attributed to the loss of employment, related to pregnancy and the demands of breastfeeding and caring for an infant, as well as a lack of support from male partners. The loss of income and subsequent financial strain contributed to worsening levels of food insecurity and relationship stress and challenged engagement in HIV care. In this way, increased financial strain during the perinatal period negatively impacted the mental health of perinatal WLWH. Our findings suggest support to meet basic needs and remain engaged in HIV care during pregnancy and postpartum could improve perinatal mental health for WLWH in this setting.

Understanding mother-to-child transmission of HIV among mothers engaged in HIV care in Kenya: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV, which may occur in utero, during birth, or through breastmilk, is now largely preventable with the advancement of HIV testing and treatment for women and their infants. Globally, great progress has been recorded over the years, with a 58% decline in new infections in children from 2010 to 2022. Currently, Kenya is among the countries with the highest rates of mother-to-child transmission of HIV despite consistent efforts to promote prevention of mother to child transmission strategies. METHODS: This case report presents the experiences of a woman, engaged in HIV care in Kenya, whose baby contracted HIV. The data used to describe this case come from surveys, provider notes, health records, observational notes, notes from phone call consultations, and one in-depth interview. All data sources were carefully reviewed, compared and complied to describe the timeline of events and context of the participant's experience. RESULTS: We found multiple factors which may have contributed to this case of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Antenatal care was initiated late in pregnancy (during the third trimester), and as a result, HIV diagnosis and treatment also occurred late in pregnancy. In addition, a lack of coordination between the clinic providing antenatal care and HIV treatment, and the hospital providing labor and delivery services led to breastfeeding initiation prior to the administration of infant HIV prophylaxis medications. Finally, poor maternal adherence to HIV medications went undetected and unaddressed until it was revealed by routine viral load monitoring three months after initiating HIV treatment (more than two months postpartum). CONCLUSIONS: Our case report shows the continued need for more intensive and integrated care for mothers living with HIV and their infants including support for pregnant women newly diagnosed with HIV, coordination of perinatal and HIV care, provisions for routine monitoring of HIV medication adherence, intensive follow-up care including point of care testing for HIV exposed infants and in person breastfeeding support. Our case report contributes an important perspective especially in light of the current UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy which recently inspired the Global Alliance to end AIDS in Children.

Resilient Mothering: An Application of Transitions Theory From Pregnancy to Motherhood Among Women Living With HIV in Western Kenya.

Efficacious strategies can now prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child. However, transmission rates remain unacceptably high, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding women's perinatal transitions can inform interventions to support adherence to preventive strategies. Therefore, we applied Transitions Theory in a longitudinal qualitative study to explore perinatal transitions among women living with HIV in western Kenya. We conducted in-depth interviews with 30 women living with HIV at 3 key time points and, using our findings, described the theory's concepts in terms of participants' experiences. We then proposed theory-based interventions that could support smooth transition processes and positive outcomes.

"It has changed my life": unconditional cash transfers and personalized infant feeding support- a feasibility intervention trial among women living with HIV in western Kenya.

BACKGROUND: The syndemic effects of poverty, food insecurity and living with HIV are recognized as global health priorities, including through the United Nations Sustainability Goals 1, 2 and 3. Today, women and girls account for 63% of all new HIV infections in eastern and southern Africa, including Kenya. Pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV in this setting face unique challenges including increased financial insecurity as women leave the work force to care for their newborn infants. This contributes to poverty, food scarcity and stress. METHODS: To address financial insecurity, improve infant feeding and reduce stress among mothers living with HIV in this setting, we developed a multilevel intervention, Supporting Healthy Mothers, consisting of 10 monthly unconditional cash transfers (10,000 KES, ~$75 USD/month) and personalized infant feeding support from pregnancy to 7 months postpartum. We conducted a non-randomized feasibility trial of this intervention among women engaged in HIV care in Kisumu, Kenya. From February 23, 2022 to March 23, 2022, we enrolled a total of 40 women who were 20-35 weeks pregnant-20 women to the intervention group at a public clinic, and 20 women to the control group at a similar clinic. Our aim was to assess feasibility, acceptability, and the potential impact of the intervention on food security, infant feeding and maternal mental health. RESULTS: Analyzing data from all 40 participants, we found a significant reduction in food insecurity scores from baseline for the intervention group when compared to the control group at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum (p = 0.0008 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Qualitative exit interviews with intervention group participants confirmed women felt more financially secure and had newly acquired practical knowledge and skills related to infant feeding. Women found the two intervention components highly acceptable and described an overall positive impact on wellbeing. CONCLUSIONS: The Supporting Healthy Mothers intervention has potential to positively impact women across the perinatal period and beyond by increasing financial security and supporting women to overcome infant feeding challenges and should be assessed in larger trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Supporting Healthy Mothers was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System, initially published on February 1, 2022. CLINICALTRIALS: gov ID: NCT05219552 Protocol ID: K23MH116807.

Longitudinal Qualitative Methods in Health Behavior and Nursing Research: Assumptions, Design, Analysis and Lessons Learned.

Longitudinal qualitative research (LQR) is an emerging methodology in health behavior and nursing research. Researchers are turning to LQR to understand experiences across time as well as identify facilitators and inhibitors of health/illness behaviors and transitions. Currently, a lack of information exists to guide researchers on LQR techniques and considerations. Our objective was to provide a methodological resource for health behavior and nursing researchers conducting LQR. LQR may be applied to understand any human experience, as well as the sequalae of the experience and is well suited for studying transitions and developmental or behavioral changes. Conducting LQR is resource intensive and requires flexibility and complex analyses. We discuss multiple components of LQR such as design considerations, analysis options, and our lessons learned. Despite complexities, LQR provides the opportunity to understand experiences across time within an individual and among a group resulting in holistic, in-depth understandings beyond a cross-sectional time point.