Table 3.
Summary of interventions
| ID | Intervention name | Intervention type | Description of intervention | When and how much | Delivery method | Delivery agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completed studies | ||||||
| Belzer et al. (2014); Sayegh et al. (2018) [40, 41] | Cell Phone Support | Individual | Standardised script: closed and open-ended questions regarding medication review, barriers to taking medication, problem-solving support, referrals and scheduling. | Telephone calls (3-5 min) once or twice a day for 24 weeks | Telephone/SMSa | Trained adherence counsellor/HCWb |
| Bhana et al. (2014) [42] | Vuka Family Programme (based on CHAMP) | Group | Culturally tailored cartoon storyline used to convey information, accommodate unique needs, family processes (communication, supervision, monitoring & support), mental health, risk behaviour & adherence. | Six sessions over a 3-month period (2 Saturdays a month) | Face-to-face | HCW (lay counsellor supervised by psychiatrist) |
| Dow et al. (2018, 2020) [43, 44] |
Mental Health Intervention Sauti ya Vijana (SYV; The Voice of Youth) |
Individual/Group | It incorporates principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and motivational interviewing. Includes relaxation, coping with stress, relationships, values, goals etc. | Ten group sessions and 2 individual sessions, 2 jointly with caregivers, each lasting 90 min (3 times a month for a period of 4 months) | Face-to-face | Peers (young adult group leaders) |
| Donenberg et al. (2019); Fabri et al. (2015) [45, 46] | Peer-led Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy | Group | Indigenous leader outreach model: a) psychosocial health education b) relaxation training c) cognitive restructuring d) adherence barriers e) caregiver psychological education. | Six 2-h sessions over 2 months (Sundays); booster session after 12-month assessment | Face-to-face | Peers (indigenous youth leaders) |
| Holden et al. (2019) [47] | Stepping Stones | Group | A holistic and transformative approach includes 3 types of change: psychological (changes in understandings of the self), convictional (revision of belief systems), and behavioural (changes in actions). Gendered and child’s rights focused framework. | A session every morning and every afternoon each weekday. Each community participated in a block of sessions covering Part 1 (sessions 1–15), then, in the next school holidays, a second block for Part 2 (sessions 16–29) (8 months). | Face-to-face | Volunteer facilitators (counsellors) |
| Hosek et al. (2018) [48] | ACCEPT | Individual/Group | Disability-stress-coping model and incorporates information and skills-building activities guided by both social cognitive theory and the information-motivation-behavioural skills model. Focused on youth newly diagnosed with HIV. | Three individual sessions, 6 group sessions of 2 h, occurring weekly (10 weeks) | Face-to-face | HCW & Peer |
| Jeffries et al. (2016) [49] | UCare4Life | Individual | Culturally-appropriate text messages in domains such as treatment and appointment adherence, HIV basics, clinical visits, and risk reduction | Mean of 12 texts per week for 3 months | ICTc/SMS | ICT |
| Letourneau et al. (2013) [50] | Multisystemic therapy (MST) | Individual/Family | Therapists drew upon a menu of evidence-based intervention techniques that included cognitive-behavioural therapy, parent training, behavioural family systems therapy and communication skills training. | Families were seen for a mean of 2.2 visits per week across a mean of 6 months | Face-to-face/ICT | Trained counsellor/therapist |
| Mimiaga et al. (2019) [51] | Positive STEPS (based on ‘Life Steps’) | Individual | Behavioural technology-based intervention: Step 1: 2-way personalised text messages; Step 2: adolescent-specific adherence counselling & video vignettes. | Five 1-h sessions delivered over 8 weeks | Face-to-face | Trained counsellor (master’s level) |
| Naar-King et al. (2006) [52] | Healthy Choices | Individual | Motivational enhancement for 2 targeted risk behaviours, combining MI with CBT. | Four sessions (60 min) over 10 weeks | Face-to-face | Trained counsellor |
| Naar-King et al. (2009) [53] | Healthy Choices | Individual | Motivational interviewing for 2 targeted risk behaviours, enhancing intrinsic motivation for change. | Four sessions (60 min) over 10 weeks | Face-to-face | Trained counsellor |
| Rongkavilit et al. (2014) [54] | Healthy Choices | Individual | Motivational interviewing for 3 targeted risk behaviours (sexual risk and either alcohol use or medication adherence). Exploring barriers, change plans. | Four sessions (60 min) over 12 weeks | Face-to-face | Trained counsellor |
| Webb et al. (2017) [55] | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | Individual | Components: (1) didactic material on topics related to mindfulness (2) experiential practice of various mindfulness techniques during group sessions (e.g. meditations, yoga); and (3) discussions on the application of mindfulness to everyday life. | Nine sessions, duration not reported | Face-to-face | Trained counsellor |
| Whiteley et al. (2018) [56] | iPhone game (BattleViro) | Individual | Multi-level gaming intervention for youth living with HIV guided by the Information Motivation and Behavioural Skills (IMB) model. Youth battle HIV and engage with healthcare providers. | Game available for 14 weeks. Twice weekly game-related text messages guided by monitoring device data for first 8 weeks. | ICT/Game | ICT/Game |
| Ongoing studies | ||||||
| Agwu & Trent (2020) [57] | Tech2Check - technology-enhanced community health nursing intervention | Individual | Field visits by a Community Health Nurse trained in disease intervention protocols, including clinical assessment, case management, counseling, and a behavioural intervention coupled with text messaging support for medication and self-care reminders. | Not stated | Face-to-face/text messaging | HCW |
| Amico et al. (2019) [58] | TERA (Triggered Escalating Real-Time Adherence) | Individual | Remote ‘face-to-face’ coaching with the assigned adherence coach; 1-way, discrete SMS text message; 2-way interactive outreach SMS from the coach if the electronic dose monitoring (EDM) bottle remains unopened after 1.5 h post dose time; incorporation of dosing data collected via the electronic dose monitoring into follow-up visits to facilitate problem-solving. | Coaching baseline, week 4 and week 12; continuous EDM with SMS outreach (12-week intervention) | Face-to-face/ ICT | Trained counsellors (TERA coaches) |
| Belzer et al. (2018) [59] | Text message/Cell Phone support (SMART)/Scale-it-Up Programme | Individual | Adherence facilitators that assess if the participant has taken their ART for the day, encourage adherence and engage the participant in brief problem-solving around identified barriers. | Call once a day for 3 months, Mon-Fri | Telephone | Trained counsellors (AFs) |
| Donenbeg & Dow (2016) [60] | IMPAACT Trauma Informed (TI) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (Group-Based Intervention to Improve Mental Health and Adherence Among Youth Living with HIV in Low-Resource Settings) | Group | Group-based psychosocial health education, cognitive restructuring, and mastery of trauma; identifying and problem-solving barriers to adherence; relaxation training. | Adolescents: Six 2-h TI-CBT group sessions led by IYL during weeks 1–6 and one 2-h booster TI-CBT group session at 6 months; Caregivers: Two 2-h group sessions led by adult study staff during weeks 1–6 and one 2-h booster group session at 6 months; Mixed-gender groups | Face-to-face | Peers (trained indigenous youth peer leaders) |
| Horvath et al. (2019) [61] | YouThrive | Individual | 1) Social support component: interface for participants to interact asynchronously through message posting; 2) ART and HIV related content presented as ‘Thrive tips’; 3) Medication adherence and mood self-monitoring: ‘My check-in’ feature; 4) Goal setting and monitoring: interface called ‘My Journey’; 5) weekly SMS to encourage youth to visit website; 6) Game mechanics: YT uses points that accumulate. | Access to website for 5 months, 3 thrive tips per day, weekly SMS engagement message | ICT | ICT – moderated by trained research staff |
| Mimiaga et al. (2018) [62] | Positive STEPS | Individual | Step 1) Low-intensity, daily, personalised, two-way text messages; Step 2) Each session incorporates adolescent-specific adherence counseling, digital video vignettes focused on adherence problems and challenges. | Step 1: 12 months; Step 2: five sessions of 50 min (duration of intervention unclear) | ICT/Face-to-face | Trained counsellor (master’s level) |
| Outlaw & Naar (2020) [63] | Motivational Enhancement System for Adherence (MESA) | Individual | Two computer-based sessions: 1) decisional balance exercise, confidence modules and goal setting, activities to boost self-efficacy. Personal feedback immune status and HIV knowledge. 2) Adherence behaviour over previous month, with actual adherence feedback, adherence behaviour over previous month and consequences of that behaviour. | 2 brief sessions one month apart | ICT | Computer-delivered |
| Arnold et al. (2019) [64] | Stepped Care Intervention | Individual |
Level 1) Enhanced Care plus automated messaging and monitoring intervention (AMMI). Level 2) Secure, private online/social media peer-support intervention. Level 3) Participants who fail to achieve viral suppression at levels 1 or 2 of the intervention will be assigned to a coaching intervention. |
Level 1 text messages: 1–5 text messages per day for 24 months; Level 2 not reported; Level 3 not reported | ICT/face-to-face/phone | Trained counsellors (coaches) |
| Sam-Agudu et al. (2017) [65] | Adolescent Coordinated Transition | Group | Altering paediatric-adult visits; monthly peer-led organised support group with curriculum content; a case management team consisting of a physician, a nurse, and a trained patient advocate. | 4 times during pre-transfer (at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months); 3 times after transfer to adult clinic (at 15, 18 and 21 months) (total 36 months) | Face-to-face | HCW & Peer |
| Sibinga (2018) [66] | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | Group | 1) Material related to mindfulness, meditation, yoga, mind-body connection; 2) Experiential practice of mindful meditation; 3) Group discussions focused on problem-solving related to barriers to effective practice. | 2-h sessions every week for 8 weeks and one 3-h session in week 9 | Face-to-face | Trained counsellor (MBSR instructor) |
| Subramanian et al. (2019) [67] |
Integrated Care Delivery of HIV Prevention and Treatment (SHIELD) |
Group | SHIELD: Educational modules on HIV prevention and treatment, general wellness, SRH, communication skills etc.; youth clubs. | Modules: a three-session, six-module program; Youth clubs: meet twice per month for 12 months; Modules for family members: 2 sessions, 4-module programme | Face-to-face | Peers for youth clubs; Unclear who will facilitate educational sessions |
aShort text messaging
bHealthcare worker
cInformation Communication Technology