Chinoda 2020.

Study name	Effectiveness of a peer‐led adolescent mental health intervention on HIV virological suppression and mental health in Zimbabwe: protocol of a cluster‐randomised trial
Methods	Cluster‐randomised clinical trial
Participants	Health centres (“clinics”) are randomised into intervention and control arms Inclusion criteria 1. Adolescents living with HIV age 10 to 19 eligible for ART 2. SSQ‐14 score ≥ 7 3. Able to provide consent (ages 18 and 19) 4. Ablel to provide assent (ages 10 to 17) and caregiver provides consent Exclusion criteria 1. Unable to comprehend study in English, Shona, or Ndebele 2. Currently in psychiatric care 3. End‐stage AIDS 4. Current psychosis, intoxication, and/or dementia
Interventions	Intervention CATS‐PST Participants receive 4 to 6 PST sessions conducted by Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters (CATS) ‐ trained, mentored peer supporters ages 18 to 24 ‐ where CATS help participants understand and share their experiences and feelings, work with participants on 1 problem of their choice and develop an action plan, and invite participants to join a 6‐week‐long support group programme. Supervision is provided weekly by nurses and monthly by a mental health specialist Control Zvandiri standard care Participants receive ART, adherence support and counselling from clinic‐based nurses and primary counsellors, counselling and home‐based support from CATS, monthly support groups, weekly text messages, and weekly home visits
Outcomes	Primary outcome 1. Proportion of adolescents with viral failure (viral load > 100 copies/mL) or death at 48 weeks Secondary outcomes 1. Proportion of adolescents with CMD (SSQ‐14 ≥ 8) 2. Mean SSQ‐14 scores 3. Mean PHQ‐9 scores 4. Proportion of adolescents with depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9 ≥ 11) 5. Mean total score for health‐related quality of life (EQ‐5D)
Starting date	January 2018
Contact information	silindi.chinoda@friendshipbench.io
Notes