In a pilot study, Lauren M. Hill, PhD, and Benjamin H. Chi, MD, MSc, evaluated a combination adherence support package for HIV antiretroviral therapy, for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV in Malawi, which included an adapted motivational interviewing-informed counseling approach (Integrated Next Step Counselling, iNSC) and an optional adherence supporter. They screened 106 women living with HIV between March and July 2020. Of these, 100 women enrolled and were randomly assigned to intervention (n=51) or control (n=49). The majority of participants (94 of 100; 94%) were newly diagnosed with HIV.
Findings suggest this combination adherence package could be used to support ART adherence among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV.