Brief Report: HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Awareness and Use Among Adolescents in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective prevention tool; however, use among adolescents is thought to be low. To determine the unmet need and opportunity to expand use, we assessed awareness, prior use, and willingness to take PrEP among Kenyan adolescents. METHODS: The Maneno Yetu study recruited a community-based sample of adolescents aged 15-19 years (N = 3061) in Kisumu for a survey using respondent-driven sampling. RESULTS: Overall, 50% of adolescents had heard of PrEP and 2% had used PrEP. Girls were more likely than boys to have heard of PrEP (53.4% vs. 45.1%; P < 0.001) and used PrEP (3.6% vs. 0.3%; P < 0.001). Among participants, 14% engaged in transactional sex and 21% experienced forced sexual contact. PrEP use was higher among adolescents who engaged in transactional sex (4.8% vs. 0.6%; P < 0.001) and experienced forced sexual contact (2.7% vs. 0.7%; P < 0.001) compared with those who did not. Among adolescents with no prior use, 53% were willing to consider using PrEP, although girls were less willing than boys (49.7% vs. 55.9%; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PrEP is an important prevention tool, especially for adolescents whose circumstances potentially expose them to HIV-positive or unknown status sexual partners, yet remains underused, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although many expressed willingness to use PrEP, low awareness and use highlight the need to expand HIV prevention education and services tailored for adolescents. Our finding that boys were more willing to use PrEP suggests campaigns should also be designed to reach male youth to narrow the gender gap and expand uptake in the adolescent population.

Effect of collaborative care intervention on productivity losses among people with comorbid common mental disorders and cardiovascular disease in rural Karnataka.

Introduction: Common mental disorders (CMD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), common health problems among patients seeking primary healthcare, contribute to high economic productivity losses. Collaborative care programs for CMDs and CVDs have shown improvement in clinical outcomes for both conditions; however, data on productivity outcomes are scarce. Objective: Effect of integrated collaborative care on productivity among people with comorbid CMD and CVD in rural Karnataka primary health clinics. Methods: Participants were recruited within a randomized trial in rural South India, where patients received either collaborative or enhanced standard care. In this substudy, 303 participants were followed for 3 months and assessed with the iMTA Productivity Cost Questionnaire (iPCQ). Results: We found a reduction in the proportion of individuals reporting productivity loss at 3 months (66%) compared to baseline (76%; P = 0.002). Productivity losses decreased from INR 30.3 per person per day at baseline to 17.7 at 3 months. Reductions were similar in the two treatment conditions. Conclusion: Medical intervention may foster reduced productivity losses among patients with CMD and CVD. Collaborative care did not translate into higher reductions in productivity losses than "enhanced standard care."

Correlates for the severity of suicidal risk in participants with common mental disorders with comorbid chronic medical conditions in rural primary healthcare settings in India.

Context: Suicide is on the rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including India. There are limited studies assessing factors linked to the severity of suicidal risk in patients with depression and comorbid chronic medical disorders in primary healthcare (PHC) settings. Aim: This study examines factors linked to suicidal risk among participants in a cluster randomized controlled trial of collaborative care intervention (Healthier Options through Empowerment (HOPE Study)). Settings and Design: The setting was at 49 PHC in the rural Ramanagara District of Karnataka State in southern India. Study eligibility criteria included being ≥30 years with at least mild depression or generalized anxiety disorder and at least one medical condition (cardiovascular disorder or type 2 diabetes mellitus). Methods and Material: The severity of suicidal risk at baseline was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and other measures included the severity of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9-items (PHQ-9)), the severity of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7-items (GAD-7)), disability, social support, quality of life, number of comorbid chronic medical illnesses, and body mass index (BMI). Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square tests and independent-samples t-tests were used to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of the no-low and mod-high suicidal risk groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify correlates associated with the mod-high suicidal risk group. Results: Mod-high suicidal risk was significantly positively associated with the severity of depression and disability and significantly negatively associated with social support. Conclusion: The severity of depression, higher disability scores, and lower social support were found to be independent correlates of mod-high suicidal risk. Screening, managing depression, and facilitating social support for patients with chronic medical illness in PHC settings may reduce suicidal risk.

The Influence of Transmission-Based and Moral-Based HIV Stigma Beliefs on Intentions to Discriminate Among Ward Staff in South Indian Health Care Settings.

HIV stigma is comprised of several beliefs, including transmission fears and moral judgments against affected communities. We examined the relationships among HIV-related stigma beliefs, endorsement of coercive measures for people living with HIV (PLWH), and intentions to discriminate. We sought to understand to what degree the different stigma beliefs shape support for restrictive policies and discriminatory intentions. Data were drawn from the baseline assessment of DriSti, a cluster randomized controlled trial of an HIV stigma reduction intervention in Indian healthcare settings (NCT02101697). Participants completed measures assessing transmission fears and moral judgments of HIV, endorsement of coercive measures against PLWH (public disclosure of HIV status, refusal of healthcare services, marriage and family restrictions, required testing, and sharing of HIV information in a clinic), and intentions to discriminate against PLWH in professional and personal settings. We utilized multivariate regression modeling with backward elimination to identify the coercive measures and behavioral intentions most strongly associated with moral judgments. 1540 ward staff members completed the assessment. Participants had relatively high perceptions of transmission fears (M = 1.92, SD = 0.79) and moral judgments (M = 1.69, SD = 0.83); endorsed more intentions to discriminate in professional (M = 6.54, SD = 2.28) than personal settings (M = 2.07, SD = 1.49), and endorsed approximately half of all coercive measures (M = 9.47, SD = 2.68). After controlling for transmission fears, perceptions of stronger moral judgments against PLWH were significantly associated with higher endorsement of coercive measures related to refusing services (ß = 0.10, t = 4.14, p < 0.001) and sharing patients' HIV status in clinics (ß = 0.07, t = 3.04, p = 0.002), as well as with stronger behavioral intentions to discriminate in professional settings (ß = 0.05, t = 2.20, p = 0.022). HIV stigma interventions for hospital-based ward staff in India need to focus on both transmission fears and moral judgments that underlie prejudicial beliefs. While the moral judgments are not technically related to risk in a hospital setting, our findings suggest that personnel will continue to discriminate in their professional work so long as these beliefs bear on their decisions and actions.

Medication Adherence among Primary Care Patients with Common Mental Disorders and Chronic Medical Conditions in Rural India.

Background: Only a few studies have explored the relationship between psychosocial factors and medication adherence in Indian patients with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). We aimed to examine the association of psychosocial variables with medication adherence in people with NCDs and comorbid common mental disorders (CMDs) from primary care in rural southern India. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial in 49 primary care health centers in rural southern India (HOPE study). Participants were adults (≥30 years) with NCDs that included hypertension, diabetes, and/or ischemic heart disease, and comorbid depression or anxiety disorders. Medication adherence was assessed by asking participants if they had missed any prescribed NCD medication in the past month. Data were collected between May 2015 and November 2018. The association between psychosocial and demographic variables and medication nonadherence were assessed via logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 2486 participants enrolled, almost one-fifth (18.06%) reported missing medication. Male sex (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.37-2.22) and higher internalized mental illness stigma (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.07-2.00) were associated with higher odds of missing medication. Older age (OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.26-0.60, for participants aged 64-75 years vs 30-44 years), reporting more social support (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.49-0.86), and higher satisfaction with health (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.61-0.89) were associated with lower odds of missing medication. Conclusions: Greater internalized mental illness stigma and less social support are significantly associated with lower rates of medication adherence in patients with NCDs and comorbid CMDs in rural India.

Elevated homocysteine and depression outcomes in patients with comorbid medical conditions in rural primary care.

We examined the association of elevated concentration of total homocysteine (tHcy) with the severity of depression in patients diagnosed with depression and comorbid chronic medical conditions in rural primary care settings in Karnataka. Participants were included from the control arm of a cluster-randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effects of using a collaborative care model to integrate screening and treatment of primary health center patients. tHcy was assayed at baseline, and depression severity scores were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) 6 months later. There was no difference in the mean PHQ-9 score between those with (mean PHQ = 7.4) and without (mean PHQ = 7.6) elevated tHcy levels (P = 0.67).

Standard Precautions are for everyone: The role of HIV stigma and implications for nursing education in India.

Background and objective: Standard Precautions (SP) are infection control procedures universally applicable to every patient. Though SP reduces disease transmission, their implementation is dependent on the knowledge and skills of healthcare workers (HCWs). Poor knowledge regarding the appropriate use of SP can cause fear among HCWs, leading to stigma and discrimination while treating people living with HIV (PLWH). Stigma and discrimination are known barriers for PLWH to access HIV care services. The aim of the study was to assess nursing student knowledge of SP, SP self-efficacy and SP perceived efficacy of nursing students, and (2) to assess the association between SP knowledge, perceived efficacy, and intention to utilize unwarranted precautions, like using double gloves while treating PLWH. Methods: This paper analyzes baseline (non-randomized) data of a cluster randomized controlled trial amongst 1868 Indian nursing students. Data was collected using computer-administered structured questionnaire. The associations between the measures were done using multiple, logistic and poisson regression models. Results: Although 97% nursing students could identify SP, only 35.5% understood that they need to be used with all patients. Awareness of the importance of using SP with all patients was positively associated with self-efficacy. Students performing high-risk tasks frequently were significantly more likely to be confident in their ability to correctly use SP, but also had higher intention to use unwarranted precautions. Conclusions: Existing teaching and training programs for HCWs need to provide clear guidelines and emphasize on the correct use of SP with all patients. This will increase both skills and confidence in their abilities (self-efficacy).

Is self-reported adherence a valid measure of glycaemic control among people living with diabetes in rural India? A cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Visual analogue scale (VAS) is one of the simplest to measure medication adherence. It has neither been widely used for Non communicable diseases (NCD) nor validated for in the Indian setting. We examined the validity of self-reported medication adherence measures in relation to HbA1C in a rural population with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Participants with DM was administered VAS, Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DMSQ) and assessed for missed pills. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were done. RESULTS: We recruited 1347 participants and 84% of them reported being 100% adherent as per VAS and 83.8% stated that they did not miss any pills. However, 58.2% of participants who reported having 100% adherence had poor glycaemic control, as did 58.1% of those who did not miss any pills. None of the diabetic self-care measures was significantly associated with glycaemic control. CONCLUSION: We found a lack of association between self-reported adherence measures and glycaemic control in participants with DM suggesting that self-reported adherence scales may not be valid in this population.

Collaborative care compared to enhanced standard treatment of depression with co-morbid medical conditions among patients from rural South India: a cluster randomized controlled trial (HOPE Study).

BACKGROUND: Depression is common among primary care patients in LMIC but treatments are largely ineffective. In this cluster-randomized controlled trial, we tested whether depression outcomes are different among recipients of a collaborative care model compared to enhanced standard treatment in patients with co-morbid chronic medical conditions. METHODS: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial among participants 30 years or older seeking care at 49 primary health centers (PHCs) in rural Karnataka, diagnosed with major depressive disorder, dysthymia, generalized anxiety disorder, or panic disorder on the MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview plus either hypertension, diabetes, or ischemic heart disease. From a list of all PHCs in the district, 24 PHCs were randomized a priori to deliver collaborative care and 25 PHCs enhanced standard treatment. The collaborative care model consisted of a clinic-based and a community-based component. Study assessment staff was blinded to treatment arm allocation. The primary outcome was the individual-level PHQ-9 score over time. RESULTS: Between May 2015 and Nov 2018, 2486 participants were enrolled, 1264 in the control arm, and 1222 in the intervention arm. They were assessed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. The mean PHQ-9 depression score was around 8.5 at baseline. At each follow-up PHQ-9 scores were significantly lower in the intervention (5.24, 4.81 and 4.22 at respective follow-ups) than in the control group (6.69, 6.13, 5.23, respectively). A significant time-by-treatment interaction (p < 0.001) in a multi-level model over all waves, nested within individuals who were nested within PHCs, confirmed that the decrease in depression score from baseline was larger for collaborative care than enhanced standard care throughout follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The collaborative care intervention resulted in significantly lower depression scores compared to enhanced standard care among participants with co-morbid physical conditions. The findings have potential implications for integrating mental health and chronic disease treatment in resource constrained settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02310932 , registered on December 8, 2014, and Clinical Trials Registry India CTRI/2018/04/013001 , registered on April 4, 2018. Retrospectively registered.

The effect of mental health training on the knowledge of common mental disorders among medical officers in primary health centres in rural Karnataka.

Background: Deficits in knowledge regarding identification and treatment of common mental disorders (CMD) and stigmatizing attitudes towards CMDs exist among primary care physicians in India. Objectives: We aimed to assess the gain in knowledge of CMDs among primary health centre (PHC) doctors, after they underwent training in the identification and treatment of CMDs, and to assess the relationship between the gain in knowledge and demographic variables. We also assessed attitudes towards depression among PHC doctors who underwent training. Methods: We assessed knowledge of CMDs among 38 PHC doctors before and after training using a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ). The training session included didactic teaching and case-based discussions. Results: The post-test mean score was significantly higher compared to the pre-test mean score (P < 0.0001), indicative of a significant mean gain in knowledge of CMDs among PHC doctors following training. Significant improvements were noted on the questions assessing identification of CMDs, knowledge of depressive symptoms and identification of panic attacks, post-training (all P < 0.05). Participants with lower pre-test scores had greater improvements in knowledge post-training. Around half of the PHC doctors endorsed negative attitudes towards depression. Conclusions: We demonstrated the efficacy of a training programme for PHC doctors in improving their knowledge of CMDs. Stigmatizing attitudes towards depression were present among around half the PHC doctors even after the training. This has implications for the strategy of integrating mental healthcare into primary care, with the overall goal of reducing the treatment gap for CMDs.

Awareness of the Use of Standard Precautions during Care of People Living with HIV by Ward Attendants in Indian Hospitals.

Context: Standard precautions (SP) are infection prevention practices universally used during patient care to lower infection transmission. Aims: The aim of the study was to (1) assess Indian ward attendants' (WAs) knowledge, perceived efficacy, and self-efficacy regarding SP and (2) examine correlates of SP self-efficacy and intent to use unnecessary precautions during care of people living with HIV. Subjects and Methods: Data are sourced from a face-to-face baseline survey of a stigma-reduction trial among 1859 WAs from Indian hospitals. Percentages were used to describe categorical variables means and standard deviations for continuous variables. Multiple regressions examined associations between measures. Results: WAs who had heard of SP had 44% higher odds of confidently using SP than those who had not heard of them. Those aware of universal SP use were 43% more likely to feel confident in using SP but also reported greater intent to use unnecessary precautions. Conclusions: Hospitals could implement SP training for WAs, as their knowledge of universal use was lacking.

Mental health of women living with HIV and its impact on child development in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Global literature examining the association between mental health of women living with HIV (WLWH) and child development is scarce. In this study, we examined the relationship between mothers' mental health and their children's social development outcomes 6 months later. Data for these analyses come from several waves of interviews of 600 WLWH in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, India. These women were enrolled in a 2×2 factorial clinical trial designed to assess the impact of food supplementation and nutrition education, both in addition to ASHA support, on adherence to ART and improved health outcomes for the women and one of their children. They were assessed on food security, stigma, social support, quality of life, depressive symptoms and child development outcomes. Results of longitudinal GEE regression analysis indicate that mother's depressive symptoms were significantly negatively associated with child's social quotient 6 months later. These findings have important implications for targeted health interventions, integrating mental health, both for WLWH and their children in India.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among PLWH in South India: Implications for Vaccination Campaigns.

BACKGROUND: The global effort to end the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus 2 pandemic will depend on our ability to achieve a high uptake of the highly efficacious vaccines in all countries. India recently experienced an unprecedented transmission surge, likely fueled by a premature reopening, the highly transmissible delta variant, and low vaccination rates. Indian media have reported high degrees of vaccine hesitancy, which could interfere with efforts to prevent future surges, making it crucial to better understand the reasons for such reluctance in vulnerable populations, such as people living with HIV. METHODS: We conducted telephone interviews with 438 people living with HIV who were participants in a longitudinal cohort, designed to examine and validate novel antiretroviral therapy ART adherence measures. Interviews were conducted in January and February 2021 and covered COVID-19-related questions on confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy, worries of vaccine side effects, trust in COVID-19 information from specific sources, and intent to get vaccinated. RESULTS: Over one-third of participants (38.4%, n = 168) met our definition of "vaccine hesitant" by reporting being either unlikely to get vaccinated at all or wanting to wait. Vaccine hesitancy was associated with lack of confidence in vaccine safety, concerns about side effects and efficacy, and distrust in common sources of vaccine-related information. DISCUSSION: These results highlight several challenges for vaccination efforts. Campaigns may benefit from using trusted sources, including antiretroviral therapy center staff, providing clear information about safety and efficacy and emphasizing the role of vaccines in preventing severe disease, hospitalizations and death, and the reduction of forward transmission to unvaccinated household members.

Risk factors for severity of depression in participants with chronic medical conditions in rural primary health care settings in India.

BACKGROUND: Depression and chronic medical disorders are strongly linked. There are limited studies addressing the correlates of the severity of depression in patients with co-morbid disorders in primary care settings. This study aimed to identify the socio-demographic and disease-specific risk factors associated with the severity of depression at baseline among patients participating in a randomized controlled trial (HOPE study). METHODS: Participants were part of a randomized controlled trial in 49 primary care health centers in rural India. We included adults (≥ 30 years) with at least mild Depression or Anxiety Disorder and at least one Cardiovascular disorder or Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. They were assessed for the severity of depression using the PHQ-9, severity of anxiety, social support, number of co-morbid chronic medical illnesses, anthropometric measurements, HbA1c, and lipid profile. RESULTS: Proportionately there were more women in the moderate category of depression than men. Ordinal logistic regression showed co-morbid anxiety and a lower level of education significantly increased the odds of more severe depression, while more social support was significantly negatively associated with depression severity in women. In men, anxiety was positively associated with greater depression severity; while reporting more social support was negatively associated with depression. LIMITATIONS: This is a cross-sectional study and thus, no causal conclusions are possible. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and poor social support in both genders and lower educational levels in women were associated with increased severity of depression. Early identification of risk factors and appropriate treatment at a primary care setting may help in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with depression.

Correlates of social support in individuals with a diagnosis of common mental disorders and non communicable medical diseases in rural South India.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the association between socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and perceived social support among patients with a diagnosis of depression and/or anxiety and co-morbid medical conditions from rural south India. METHODS: The study was conducted in 49 PHCs in Ramanagara district, Karnataka, and included 2481 participants, who were 30 years or older with co-morbid CMD (Common Mental Disorder) and hypertension, diabetes or ischemic heart disease. Socio-demographic characteristics of the participants were collected, and instrumental, emotional and total social support, quality of life, severity of disability, depression and anxiety were measured via face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires. RESULTS: The sample predominantly consisted of Hindu (98.5%) females (75%) in their middle to late adulthood. In multivariate models, age showed a significant curvilinear relation with all forms of social support (B = 0.001 and p < 0.05), and emotional social support (B = - 0.056, p = 0.004) was lower in employed than non-working participants. Household size was positively related to all forms of social support (B = 0.029 for instrumental, B = 0.022 for emotional, B = 0.025 for total social support, all p < 0.001). Quality of life was positively associated with all forms of social support (B = 0.019 for instrumental, B = 0.016 for emotional, B = 0.018 for total social support, all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For this sample of outpatients diagnosed with both CMD and at least one comorbid medical condition in rural south India, greater household size was associated with better social support. The role of family in providing support can be utilized while designing interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: http://Clinicaltrials.gov : NCT02310932 registered December 8, 2014 URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02310932 ; Clinical Trials Registry India: CTRI/2018/04/013001 retrospectively registered on April 4, 2018.

Correlates of and barriers to ART adherence among adherence-challenged people living with HIV in southern India.

Suboptimal adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) regimens can lead to the development of drug resistance, virologic and clinical failure, and, on the community level, the spread of drug-resistant HIV. To design effective interventions, it is crucial to understand locally specific barriers to optimal adherence. Self-report data from a cross-sectional sample of 527 adherence-challenged people living with HIV (PLWH) in the South-Indian state of Karnataka showed that they took on average 68% of prescribed doses in the past month. Large majorities of participants encountered individual (95%), social/structural (88%), and clinic/regimen (80%) adherence barriers. Multivariate linear regression analyses of past month adherence showed that disclosure to all adults in the household was positively related to adherence, as was employing a larger number of adherence strategies, perceiving more benefits of ART, and having been on ART for longer. Fears of stigmatization upon disclosure of HIV-status to friends and people at work were negatively related to adherence. These results suggest that some barriers, especially individual-level barriers like forgetfulness are very common and can be targeted with relatively simple individual-level strategies. Other barriers, related to fear of stigma and lack of disclosure may require family- or community-level interventions.

Reduction in Stigma Drivers Partially Mediates the Effect of a Stigma Reduction Intervention Among Nursing Students in India: The DriSti Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: HIV stigma in health care settings acts as a significant barrier to health care. Stigma drivers among health professionals include transmission fears and misconceptions and pre-existing negative attitudes toward marginalized groups vulnerable to HIV. The DriSti intervention, consisted of 2 sessions with videos and interactive exercises on a computer tablet and one interactive face-to-face group session, mostly tablet administered, was designed to target key stigma drivers that included instrumental stigma, symbolic stigma, transmission misconceptions and blame to reduce HIV stigma, and discrimination among nursing students (NS) and ward staff and tested in a cluster randomized trial. SETTING: This report focuses on second and third year NS recruited from a range of nursing schools that included private, nonprofit, and government-run nursing schools in south India. RESULTS: Six hundred seventy-nine NS received intervention and 813 NS were in the wait-list control group. Twelve months outcome analyses showed significant reduction among intervention participants in endorsement of coercive policies (P < 0.001) and in the number of situations in which NS intended to discriminate against PLWH (P < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that the effects of intervention on endorsement of coercive policies and intent to discriminate against PLWH were partially mediated by reductions in key stigma drivers. CONCLUSIONS: This brief scalable stigma reduction intervention targeting key stigma drivers fills a critical gap in identifying the mechanistic pathways that aid in stigma reduction among health professionals.

HIV Transmission Worry Predicts Discrimination Intentions Among Nursing Students and Ward Staff in India.

Health facility stigma impedes HIV care and treatment. Worry of contracting HIV while caring for people living with HIV is a key driver of health facility stigma, however evidence for this relationship is largely cross-sectional. This study evaluates this relationship longitudinally amongst nursing students and ward staff in India. Worry of contracting HIV and other known predictors of intent to discriminate were collected at baseline and 6 months in 916 nursing students and 747 ward staff. Using fixed effects regression models, we assessed the effect of key predictors on intent to discriminate over a 6-month period. Worry of contracting HIV predicted intent to discriminate for nursing students and ward staff in care situations with low and high-risk for bodily fluid exposure, confirming prior cross-sectional study results and underscoring the importance of addressing worry of contracting HIV as part of health facility HIV stigma-reduction interventions.

Reducing HIV stigma among healthcare providers in India using a partly tablet-administered intervention: the DriSti trial.

HIV stigma has long been recognized as a significant barrier in the worldwide fight against HIV. Across cultures, stigma has been shown to cause psychological distress and act as a barrier to engagement in care. Health professionals can serve as a crucial source of HIV stigma, with drivers that include fears and transmission misconceptions and pre-existing negative attitudes towards marginalized groups. To increase their impact, stigma reduction interventions need to be scalable and sustainable as well as adaptable to different cultural contexts. The DriSti intervention was designed to meet these needs through an easily adaptable, mostly tablet-administered, interactive intervention delivered to ward staff (n = 1,557) and nursing students (n = 1,625) in 62 Indian institutions, using a cRCT design, with wait-list controls. Six-month outcome analyses, showed significant reductions in misconceptions (p < .001) and worry about acquiring HIV at work (p < .001). Intervention participants also reported significantly greater reductions in endorsement of coercive policies (p < .001) and in the number of situations in which they intended to discriminate against PLWH (p < .001) than control participants. This brief, scaleable intervention could be adapted for similar populations in the region, using different mHealth platforms and thus has important implications for current global stigma reduction initiatives and training curricula.