AIDS Care - Psychology, Health & Medicine - Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies
Community health workers (CHW) can play an active role in providing integrated HIV and harm reduction services. We used social media to create a virtual network among Vietnamese CHW. This paper reports CHW’s social media engagement and the relationships with other workrelated indicators. Sixty CHW participated in an intervention for integrated HIV/drug use service delivery. Following two in-person sessions, Facebook groups were established for CHW to share information, seek consultation, and refer patients. CHW’s levels of online engagements were tracked for six months and linked to their service provision confidence, interaction with patients and other providers, and job satisfaction. The CHW made 181 posts, which received 557 comments and 1,607 reactions during the six months. Among the 60 CHW, 22 (36.6%) had three or more posts, 19 (31.7%) had one or two posts, and 19 (31.7%) had no post. Comparing the baseline and 6-month follow-up data, we observed that those who posted three or more times showed better service provision confidence (p = 0.0081), more interaction with providers in other settings (p = 0.0071), and higher job satisfaction (p = 0.0268). Our study suggests using social media to engage CHW in virtual communications to improve service provision in communities
Le Minh Giang, Nguyen Thu Trang, Nguyen Bich Diep, Dao Thi Dieu Thuy, Dinh Thanh Thuy, Han Dinh Hoe, Hoang Thi Hai Van, Thai Thanh Truc, Hoa H. Nguyen, Nguyen Ly Lai, Pham Thi Dan Linh, Vu Thi Tuong Vi, Cathy J. Reback, Arleen Leibowitz, Li Li, Chunqing Lin, Michael Li, Do Van Dung, Ste
Background: Methamphetamine use could jeopardize the current efforts to address opioid use disorder and HIV infection. Evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBI) are effective in reducing methamphetamine use. However, evidence on optimal combinations of EBI is limited. This protocol presents a type-1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid design to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness of adaptive methamphetamine use interventions, and their implementation barriers in Vietnam. Method: Design: Participants will be first randomized into two frontline interventions for 12 weeks. They will then be placed or randomized to three adaptive strategies for another 12 weeks. An economic evaluation and an ethnographic evaluation will be conducted alongside the interventions. Participants: We will recruit 600 participants in 20 methadone clinics. Eligibility criteria: (1) age 16+; (2) Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores ≥ 10 for methamphetamine use or confirmed methamphetamine use with urine drug screening; (3) willing to provide three pieces of contact information; and (4) having a cell phone. Outcomes: Outcomes are measured at 13, 26, and 49 weeks and throughout the interventions. Primary outcomes include the (1) increase in HIV viral suppression, (2) reduction in HIV risk behaviors, and (3) reduction in methamphetamine use. COVID-19 response: We developed a response plan for interruptions caused by COVID-19 lockdowns to ensure data quality and intervention fidelity
International journal of STD & AIDS
Background: People living with HIV who use drugs (PLHWUD) face enormous challenges to access antiretroviral therapy (ART), addiction treatment, and other healthcare services. This study evaluated the effect of a community capacity-building approach on PLHWUD’s access to healthcare services. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in four provinces of Vietnam. Trained commune health workers in the intervention condition were encouraged to provide services to PLHWUD in the community and engage them in HIV/addiction treatment and care using learned knowledge and skills. A total of 241 PLHWUD participated in surveys at the baseline and every three months for one year. The primary outcome was PLHWUD’s reported barriers to seeking healthcare. A linear mixed-effects regression model with a difference in difference approach was used to estimate the intervention effect on the primary outcome. Results: Adjusted analyses indicated that significant intervention effects were observed at the Sixth and ninth month follow-ups for those on ART at the baseline and increased motivation to engage in treatment at the 3-month follow-up (60.2% vs 34.4% for the intervention and control groups, respectively). Conclusions: The community capacity-building intervention had shown promising yet limited outcomes among a subset of PLHWUD in the community, that is, PLHWUD who had already initiated ART
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