HIV-related Shame among Women Giving Birth in Tanzania: A Mixed Methods Study.

Women living with HIV (WLHIV) commonly experience HIV-related shame which can interfere with HIV care-seeking behavior and lead to poor clinical outcomes. HIV-related shame may be particularly heightened during the pregnancy and postpartum periods. This study aimed to describe HIV-related shame among WLHIV giving birth, identify associated factors, and qualitatively examine the impacts of HIV-related shame on the childbirth experience. Postpartum WLHIV (n = 103) were enrolled in the study between March and July 2022 at six clinics in the Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. Participants completed a survey within 48 h after birth, prior to being discharged. The survey included a 13-item measure of HIV-related shame, which assessed levels of HIV-related shame (Range: 0-52). Univariable and multivariable regression models examined factors associated with HIV-related shame. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant WLHIV (n = 12) and postpartum WLHIV (n = 12). Thematic analysis, including memo writing, coding, and synthesis, was employed to analyze the qualitative data. The survey sample had a mean age of 29.1 (SD = 5.7), and 52% were diagnosed with HIV during the current pregnancy. Nearly all participants (98%) endorsed at least one item reflecting HIV-related shame, with an average endorsement of 9 items (IQR = 6). In the final multivariable model, HIV-related shame was significantly associated with being Muslim vs. Christian (ß = 6.80; 95%CI: 1.51, 12.09), attending less than four antenatal care appointments (ß = 5.30; 95%CI: 0.04, 10.55), and reporting experiences of HIV stigma in the health system (ß = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.27, 1.12). Qualitative discussions revealed three key themes regarding the impact of HIV-related shame on the childbirth experience: reluctance to disclose HIV status, suboptimal adherence to care, and the influence on social support networks. WLHIV giving birth experience high rates of HIV-related shame, and social determinants may contribute to feelings of shame. HIV-related shame impacts the childbirth experience for WLHIV, making the labor and delivery setting an important site for intervention and support.The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (R21 TW012001) and is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05271903).

Outcomes of the MAMA Training: A Simulation and Experiential Learning Intervention for Labor and Delivery Providers to Improve Respectful Maternity Care for Women Living with HIV in Tanzania.

Respectful maternity care (RMC) for women living with HIV (WLHIV) improves birth outcomes and may influence women's long-term commitment to HIV care. In this study, we evaluated the MAMA training, a team-based simulation training for labor and delivery (L&D) providers to improve RMC and reduce stigma in caring for WLHIV. The study was conducted in six clinical sites in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. 60 L&D providers participated in the MAMA training, which included a two-and-a-half-day workshop followed by a half-day on-site refresher. We assessed the impact of the MAMA training using a pre-post quasi-experimental design. To assess provider impacts, participants completed assessments at baseline and post-intervention periods, measuring RMC practices, HIV stigma, and self-efficacy to provide care. To evaluate patient impacts, we enrolled birthing women at the study facilities in the pre- (n = 229) and post- (n = 214) intervention periods and assessed self-reported RMC and perceptions of provider HIV stigma. We also collected facility-level data on the proportion of patients who gave birth by cesarean section, disaggregated by HIV status. The intervention had a positive impact on all provider outcomes; providers reported using more RMC practices, lower levels of HIV stigma, and greater self-efficacy to provide care for WLHIV. We did not observe differences in self-reported patient outcomes. In facility-level data, we observed a trend in reduction in cesarean section rates for WLHIV (33.0% vs. 24.1%, p = 0.14). The findings suggest that the MAMA training may improve providers' attitudes and practices in caring for WLHIV giving birth and should be considered for scale-up.

A simulation and experiential learning intervention for labor and delivery providers to address HIV stigma during childbirth in Tanzania: study protocol for the evaluation of the MAMA intervention.

BACKGROUND: The experience of HIV stigma during intrapartum care can impact women's trust in the health care system and undermine their long-term commitment to HIV care engagement. Delivery of respectful maternity care (RMC) to women living with HIV (WLHIV) can improve quality of life and clinical outcomes. The goal of this study is to conduct an evaluation of MAMA (Mradi wa Afya ya Mama Mzazi, Project to Support the Health of Women Giving Birth), a simulation team-training curriculum for labor and delivery providers that addresses providers' instrumental and attitudinal stigma toward WLHIV and promotes the delivery of evidence-based RMC for WLHIV. METHODS: The MAMA intervention will be evaluated among healthcare providers across six clinics in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. To evaluate the impact of MAMA, we will enroll WLHIV who give birth in the facilities before (n = 103 WLHIV) and after (n = 103 WLHIV) the intervention. We will examine differences in the primary outcome (perceptions of RMC) and secondary outcomes (postpartum HIV care engagement; perceptions of HIV stigma in the facility; internal HIV stigma; clinical outcomes and evidence-based practices) between women enrolled in the two time periods. Will also assess participating providers (n = 60) at baseline, immediate post, 1-month post training, and 2-month post training. We will examine longitudinal changes in the primary outcome (practices of RMC) and secondary outcomes (stigma toward WLHIV; self-efficacy in delivery intrapartum care). Quality assurance data will be collected to assess intervention feasibility and acceptability. DISCUSSION: The implementation findings will be used to finalize the intervention for a train-the-trainer model that is scalable, and the outcomes data will be used to power a multi-site study to detect significant differences in HIV care engagement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05271903.

Drivers of inappropriate use of antimicrobials in South Asia: A systematic review of qualitative literature.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health crisis. Effective antimicrobial stewardship requires an understanding of the factors and context that contribute to inappropriate use of antimicrobials. The goal of this qualitative systematic review was to synthesize themes across levels of the social ecological framework that drive inappropriate use of antimicrobials in South Asia. In September 2023, we conducted a systematic search using the electronic databases PubMed and Embase. Search terms, identified a priori, were related to research methods, topic, and geographic location. We identified 165 articles from the initial search and 8 upon reference review (n = 173); after removing duplicates and preprints (n = 12) and excluding those that did not meet eligibility criteria (n = 115), 46 articles were included in the review. We assessed methodological quality using the qualitative Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist. The studies represented 6 countries in South Asia, and included data from patients, health care providers, community members, and policy makers. For each manuscript, we wrote a summary memo to extract the factors that impede antimicrobial stewardship. We coded memos using NVivo software; codes were organized by levels of the social ecological framework. Barriers were identified at multiple levels including the patient (self-treatment with antimicrobials; perceived value of antimicrobials), the provider (antimicrobials as a universal therapy; gaps in knowledge and skills; financial or reputational incentives), the clinical setting (lack of resources; poor regulation of the facility), the community (access to formal health care; informal drug vendors; social norms), and policy (absence of a regulatory framework; poor implementation of existing policies). This study is the first to succinctly identify a range of norms, behaviors, and policy contexts driving inappropriate use of antimicrobials in South Asia, emphasizing the importance of working across multiple sectors to design and implement approaches specific to the region.

Drivers of inappropriate use of antimicrobials in South Asia: A systematic review of qualitative literature.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health crisis. Effective antimicrobial stewardship requires an understanding of the factors and context that contribute to inappropriate use of antimicrobials. The goal of this qualitative systematic review was to synthesize themes across levels of the social ecological framework that drive inappropriate use of antimicrobials in South Asia. In September 2023, we conducted a systematic search using the electronic databases PubMed and Embase. Search terms, identified a priori, were related to research methods, topic, and geographic location. We identified 165 articles from the initial search and 8 upon reference review (n=173); after removing duplicates and preprints (n=12) and excluding those that did not meet eligibility criteria (n=115), 46 articles were included in the review. We assessed methodological quality using the qualitative Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist. The studies represented 6 countries in South Asia, and included data from patients, health care providers, community members, and policy makers. For each manuscript, we wrote a summary memo to extract the factors that impede antimicrobial stewardship. We coded memos using NVivo software; codes were organized by levels of the social ecological framework. Barriers were identified at multiple levels including the patient (self-treatment with antimicrobials; perceived value of antimicrobials), the provider (antimicrobials as a universal therapy; gaps in knowledge and skills; financial or reputational incentives), the clinical setting (lack of resources; poor regulation of the facility), the community (access to formal health care; informal drug vendors; social norms), and policy (absence of a regulatory framework; poor implementation of existing policies). The findings highlight the importance of working across multiple sectors to design and implement approaches to antimicrobial stewardship in South Asia.