1. Sustained Effect of a Community-based Behavioral and Nutrition Intervention on HIV-related Outcomes Among Women Living With HIV in Rural India: A Quasi-experimental Trial.
- Author
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Nyamathi, Adeline M., Shin, Sanghyuk S., Sinha, Sanjeev, Carpenter, Catherine L., Garfin, Dana Rose, Ramakrishnan, Padma, Yadav, Kartik, and Ekstrand, Maria L.
- Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: Women living with HIV (WLH) in rural communities face challenges to obtaining treatment and accurate disease-related information. Nutritional deficits exacerbate disease progression. Setting: WLH were recruited from primary health centers in rural India. Method: A quasi-experimental trial of a comprehensive Accredited Social Health Activist (Asha)-supported intervention compared 4 distinct Asha-based programs [(1) standard education (SE) alone; (2) nutrition education (+NE); (3) nutrition supplements (+NS); or (4) nutrition education and nutrition supplements (+NENS)] on key disease and nutrition-related outcomes [CD4 count, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, and hemoglobin]. Assessments occurred at baseline, and months 6 (immediately after intervention), 12, and 18. Multilevel modeling examined effects of program (group) over time. Findings: Among 600 WLH enrolled (n = 150 per arm), mean age, CD4 count, and BMI (kg/m2) were 34.31, 447.42, and 20.09, respectively, at baseline. At 18-month follow-up, program 4 (+NENS) experienced greatest improvements in CD4 counts compared with program 1 (+SE) [adjusted difference = 223.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 170.29 to 277.32]. For BMI, programs 3 (+NS; adjusted difference = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.39 to 3.26) and 4 (+NENS; adjusted difference = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.17 to 3.12) exhibited greater gains compared with program 1 (+SE). Programs 3 and 4 were not significantly different from each other (adjusted difference = −0.18, 95% CI: −1.12 to 0.76). Hemoglobin and serum albumin also improved over time; program 4 (+NENS) exhibited the greatest gains. Conclusions: A low-cost Asha-supported behavioral and nutritional intervention improved outcomes for WLH. Gains were sustained at 18-month follow-up. Similar approaches may help improve HIV and other infectious disease-related outcomes in vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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