A Community-Based, Mobile Electronic Medical Record System App for High-Quality, Integrated Antiretroviral Therapy in Lilongwe, Malawi: Design Process and Pilot Implementation.

BACKGROUND: Differentiated service delivery (DSD) increases antiretroviral therapy (ART) access in sub-Saharan Africa by moving clients out of congested ART clinics to communities for care. However, DSD settings challenge provider adherence to complex, chronic care treatment guidelines and have burdensome systems for client monitoring and evaluation (M&E), reducing data for decision-making. Electronic medical record systems (EMRS) improve client outcomes and reduce M&E workload. Traditional EMRS cannot operate in most DSD settings with unreliable power and poor connectivity. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to detail the human-centered design (HCD) process of developing a mobile EMRS for community-based DSD services in Lilongwe, Malawi. METHODS: Lighthouse Trust (LT) operates 2 Ministry of Health (MoH) clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi, with a combined total of >35,000 ART clients. LT's real-time, point-of-care EMRS collects complex client M&E data and provides decision-making support, ensuring adherence to integrated HIV and tuberculosis guidelines that optimize client and program outcomes. LT's EMRS scaled to all large MoH ART clinics. LT also implements a nurse-led community-based ART program (NCAP), a DSD model to provide ART and rapid assessment for 2400 stable LT clients in the community. LT, alongside collaborators, from the University of Washington's International Training and Education Center for Health and technology partner, Medic, used the open-source Community Health Toolkit (CHT) and HCD to develop an open-source, offline-first, mobile EMRS-like app, "community-based ART retention and suppression" (CARES). CARES aims to bring EMRS-like provider benefits to NCAP's DSD clients. RESULTS: CARES design took approximately 12 months and used an iterative process of highly participatory feedback sessions with provider, data manager, and M&E team inputs to ensure CARES optimization for the NCAP and LT settings. The CARES mobile EMRS prototype supports NCAP providers with embedded prompts and alerts to ensure adherence to integrated MoH ART guidelines, aiming to improve the quality of client care. CARES facilitates improved data quality and flow for NCAP M&E, aiming to reduce data gaps between community and clinic settings. The CARES pilot demonstrates the potential of a mobile, point-of-care EMRS-like app that could benefit NCAP clients, providers, and program teams with integrated client care and complete M&E data for decision-making. CARES challenges include app speed, search features to align longitudinal records, and CARES to EMRS integration that supports timely care alerts. CONCLUSIONS: Leveraging the CHT and HCD processes facilitated the design of a locally specified and optimized mobile app with the promise to bring EMRS-like benefits to DSD settings. Moving from the CARES prototype to routine NCAP implementation should result in improved client care and strengthened M&E while reducing workload. Our transparent and descriptive process shares the progress and pitfalls of the CARES design and development, helping others in this digital innovation area to learn from our experiences at this stage.

Factors associated with desired fertility among HIV-positive women and men attending two urban clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi.

As access to antiretroviral therapy increases, more HIV-infected patients in sub-Saharan Africa may desire fertility. We conducted a cross-sectional study of reproductive health knowledge, attitudes and practices to identify factors associated with desired fertility among women and men receiving care at two large public HIV clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi. Research assistants administered questionnaires to participants. We performed descriptive, bivariable and multivariable analysis of factors related to desired fertility and of factors related to contraceptive non-use among participants who did not desire fertility. One-third of participants desired future children. Having a partner who desired fertility and having lower parity were associated with desiring children among both genders. For women, believing that pregnancy was unhealthy was associated with decreased fertility desire. Fifty-five percent of women and 69% of men who did not want children in the future reported using contraception at last intercourse. Increasing age, lower parity, and making the decision to use contraception herself were associated with contraceptive non-use among women who did not desire fertility. Having discussed family planning with his partner was associated with contraceptive use among men who did not desire fertility. Knowledge of these factors can guide reproductive health counseling and service provision.

Factors associated with condom use among men and women living with HIV in Lilongwe, Malawi: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the influences on condom use among men and women living with HIV is critical to tailoring sexually transmitted infection/HIV prevention efforts. METHODS: This is a sub-analysis of a cross-sectional survey including 255 women and 220 men who were sexually active, HIV-positive, and attending HIV care visits in Lilongwe, Malawi. We estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to evaluate for factors associated with consistent condom use (always using condoms in the past month) and use at last coitus for men and women in separate models. RESULTS: Among women: 38% and 55% reported consistent condom use and condom use at last coitus, respectively. For women, consistent use and use at last coitus were positively associated with the ability to refuse sex without condoms and shared decision-making compared with making the decision alone regarding condom use, and negatively associated with desire for children in the future. Consistent use also increased with longer antiretroviral therapy (ART) use (≥1 year compared with no ART use). Among men: 51% and 69% reported consistent condom use and condom use at last coitus, respectively. For men, the ability to refuse sex without condoms was associated with consistent use and use at last coitus, and believing that condoms should be used with other contraception was associated with consistent use. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate ongoing low condom utilisation among HIV-positive individuals, and highlight that ART and contraceptive use do not deter condom use. Efforts to increase condom utilisation must recognise individual-level factors that influence use and should focus on relationship dynamics and promotion of empowerment and self-efficacy.

Influences in fertility decisions among HIV-infected individuals in Lilongwe, Malawi: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The motivation to have a child may be complex with numerous influencing factors, particularly among individuals living with HIV. This study sought to understand factors influencing fertility decision-making for HIV-infected men and women in Lilongwe, Malawi. METHODS: Thirteen focus groups were conducted among HIV-infected individuals enrolled in antiretroviral treatment services. RESULTS: Participants identified a hierarchy of influences in fertility decisions including the importance of childbearing, patriarchal influence, family influences and concern regarding HIV transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing fertility conversations beyond the confines of a relationship may be important, as family plays a significant role in fertility choices. Childbearing remains a fundamental desire among many individuals with HIV; however, concerns regarding transmission risk need to be addressed with efforts made to overcome misconception and assist individuals in balancing what may be competing influences.

Factors Associated with Hormonal and Intrauterine Contraceptive Use among HIV-Infected Men and Women in Lilongwe, Malawi: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background. Understanding the factors associated with the use of hormonal and intrauterine contraception among HIV-infected men and women may lead to interventions that can help reduce high unintended pregnancy rates. Materials and Methods. This study is a subanalysis of a cross-sectional survey of 289 women and 241 men who were sexually active and HIV-infected and were attending HIV care visits in Lilongwe, Malawi. We estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) to evaluate factors associated with hormonal and intrauterine contraceptive use for men and women in separate models. Results and Discussion. 39.8% of women and 33.2% of men (p = 0.117) reported that they were using hormonal or intrauterine contraception at last intercourse. Having greater than 3 children was the only factor associated with hormonal and intrauterine contraceptive use among men. Among women, younger age, not wanting a pregnancy in 2 years, being with their partner for more than 4 years, and being able to make family planning decisions by themselves were associated with hormonal and intrauterine contraceptive use. Conclusions. The men and women in our study population differed in the factors associated with hormonal and intrauterine contraceptive use. Understanding these differences may help decrease unmet FP needs among HIV-infected men and women.

Integrating reproductive health services into HIV care: strategies for successful implementation in a low-resource HIV clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Lighthouse Trust operates two public HIV testing, treatment and care clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi, caring for over 26 000 people living with HIV, 23 000 of whom are on antiretroviral treatment (ART). In August 2010, Lighthouse Trust piloted a step-wise integration of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services into routine HIV care at its Lighthouse clinic site. The objectives were to increase uptake of family planning (FP), promote long-term reversible contraceptive methods, and increase access, screening and treatment for cervical cancer using visual inspection with acetic acid. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients found integrated SRH/ART services acceptable; service availability appeared to increase uptake. Between August 2010 and May 2014, over 6000 women at Lighthouse received FP education messages. Of 859 women who initiated FP, 55% chose depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, 19% chose an intrauterine contraceptive device, 14% chose oral contraceptive pills, and 12% chose an implant. By May 2014, 21% of eligible female patients received cervical cancer screening: 11% (166 women) had abnormal cervical findings during screening for cervical cancer and underwent further treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Several lessons were learned in overcoming initial concerns about integration. First, our integrated services required minimal additional resources over those needed for provision of HIV care alone. Second, patient flow improved during implementation, reducing a barrier for clients seeking multiple services. Lastly, analysis of routine data showed that the proportion of women using some form of modern contraception was 45% higher at Lighthouse than at Lighthouse's sister clinic where services were not integrated (42% vs 29%), providing further evidence for promotion of SRH/ART integration.

Pregnancy prevention and condom use practices among HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy seeking family planning in Lilongwe, Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Programs for integration of family planning into HIV care must recognize current practices and desires among clients to appropriately target and tailor interventions. We sought to evaluate fertility intentions, unintended pregnancy, contraceptive and condom use among a cohort of HIV-infected women seeking family planning services within an antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic. METHODS: 200 women completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire during enrollment into a prospective contraceptive study at the Lighthouse Clinic, an HIV/ART clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi, between August and December 2010. RESULTS: Most women (95%) did not desire future pregnancy. Prior reported unintended pregnancy rates were high (69% unplanned and 61% unhappy with timing of last pregnancy). Condom use was inconsistent, even among couples with discordant HIV status, with lack of use often attributed to partner's refusal. Higher education, older age, lower parity and having an HIV negative partner were factors associated with consistent condom usage. DISCUSSION: High rates of unintended pregnancy among these women underscore the need for integ rating family planning, sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, and HIV services. Contraceptive access and use, including condoms, must be improved with specific efforts to enlist partner support. Messages regarding the importance of condom usage in conjunction with more effective modern contraceptive methods for both infection and pregnancy prevention must continue to be reinforced over the course of ongoing ART treatment.

Contraceptive adherence among HIV-infected women in Malawi: a randomized controlled trial of the copper intrauterine device and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate contraceptive adherence to the copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) and the injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) among women with HIV in Lilongwe, Malawi. METHODS: We randomized 200 HIV-infected women on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to either the Cu-IUD or DMPA and followed these women prospectively, evaluating adherence and factors associated with nonadherence. RESULTS: There was no difference in contraceptive adherence: 68% of Cu-IUD and 65% of DMPA users were adherent at 48 weeks. Receiving first-choice contraceptive was not associated with adherence. Women commonly cited partner's disapproval as an indication for discontinuation. Women who experienced heavy menstruation and first-time contraceptive users were more likely to be nonadherent. Among ongoing users at study conclusion, 95% were happy with their method, and 98% would recommend their method to a friend. CONCLUSION: Contraceptive adherence between the Cu-IUD and DMPA was similar at 1 year. With similar adherence and similar high rates of satisfaction among users of both methods at 1 year, the Cu-IUD offers a hormone-free alternative to DMPA. IMPLICATIONS: Adherence to the Cu-IUD and DMPA is similar at 1 year among HIV-infected women on HAART in a randomized controlled trial. Despite high method satisfaction, partner disapproval and heavy bleeding contribute to reduced adherence. Receiving a method that differs from participant's first-choice method did not influence adherence.