Mid-level managers' perspectives on implementing isoniazid preventive therapy for people living with HIV in Ugandan health districts: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) works to prevent tuberculosis (TB) among people living with HIV (PLHIV), but uptake remains low in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this analysis, we sought to identify barriers mid-level managers face in scaling IPT in Uganda and the mechanisms by which the SEARCH-IPT trial intervention influenced their abilities to increase IPT uptake. METHODS: The SEARCH-IPT study was a cluster randomized trial conducted from 2017-2021. The SEARCH-IPT intervention created collaborative groups of district health managers, facilitated by local HIV and TB experts, and provided leadership and management training over 3-years to increase IPT uptake in Uganda. In this qualitative study we analyzed transcripts of annual Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews, from a subset of SEARCH-IPT participants from intervention and control groups, and participant observation field notes. We conducted the analysis using inductive and deductive coding (with a priori codes and those derived from analysis) and a framework approach for data synthesis. RESULTS: When discussing factors that enabled positive outcomes, intervention managers described feeling ownership over interventions, supported by the leadership and management training they received in the SEARCH-IPT study, and the importance of collaboration between districts facilitated by the intervention. In contrast, when discussing factors that impeded their ability to make changes, intervention and control managers described external funders setting agendas, lack of collaboration in meetings that operated with more of a 'top-down' approach, inadequate supplies and staffing, and lack of motivation among frontline providers. Intervention group managers mentioned redistribution of available stock within districts as well as between districts, reflecting efforts of the SEARCH-IPT intervention to promote between-district collaboration, whereas control group managers mentioned redistribution within their districts to maximize the use of available IPT stock. CONCLUSIONS: In Uganda, mid-level managers' perceptions of barriers to scaling IPT included limited power to set agendas and control over funding, inadequate resources, lack of motivation of frontline providers, and lack of political prioritization. We found that the SEARCH-IPT intervention supported managers to design and implement strategies to improve IPT uptake and collaborate between districts. This may have contributed to the overall intervention effect in increasing the uptake of IPT among PLHIV compared to standard practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03315962 , Registered 20 October 2017.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Text Messaging Intervention to Promote Virologic Suppression and Retention in Care in an Urban Safety-Net Human Immunodeficiency Virus Clinic: The Connect4Care Trial.

Background: Text messaging is a promising strategy to support human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care engagement, but little is known about its efficacy in urban safety-net HIV clinics. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a supportive and motivational text messaging intervention, Connect4Care (C4C), among viremic patients who had a history of poor retention or were new to the clinic. Participants were randomized (stratified by new or established HIV diagnosis status) to receive either of the following for 12 months: (1) thrice-weekly intervention messages, plus texted primary care appointment reminders and a monthly text message requesting confirmation of study participation or (2) texted reminders and monthly messages alone. Viral load was assessed at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was virologic suppression (<200 copies/mL) at 12 months, estimated via repeated-measures log-binomial regression, adjusted for new-diagnosis status. The secondary outcome was retention in clinic care. Results: Between August 2013 and November 2015, a total of 230 participants were randomized. Virologic suppression at 12 months was similar in intervention and control participants (48.8% vs 45.8%, respectively), yielding a rate ratio of 1.07 (95% confidence interval, .82-1.39). Suppression was higher in those with newly diagnosed infection (78.3% vs 45.3%). There were no intervention effects on the secondary outcome. Exploratory analyses suggested that patients with more responses to study text messages had better outcomes, regardless of arm. Conclusions: The C4C text messaging intervention did not significantly increase virologic suppression or retention in care. Response to text messages may be a useful way for providers to gauge risk for poor HIV outcomes. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT01917994.