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There is increasing evidence that HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment. We investigated the relationship between HIV-1 sub-type C Vpr sequence variation and HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment as measured by global deficit score (GDS) in treatment naive individuals. We used different bioinformatic tools and statistical models to correlate vpr variation and cognitive function. We identified a Tyrosine at position 45 (45Y) as signature for neurocognitive impairment and Histidine (45H) as a signature in the non-impaired indviduals. The presence of signature 45Y was associated by 3.66 times higher GDS, 525 times higher plasma viral load, 15.84 times higher proviral load and 60% lower absolute CD4-T cell count compared those without the signature. Additionally, we identified 4 conserved Vpr fragment sequences, PEDQGPQREPYNEWTLE (5 to 21), LGQYIY(42 to 47), TYGDTW (49 to 54), PEDQGPQREPYNEW (5 to 18) that were associated with higher plasma viral load and proviral load. The implication of these findings is that variation of Vpr leads to neurocognitve impairment in HIV infection and worsens the progression of disease in general by promoting the production of provirus, promoting HIV replication and depletion of CD4+ T cells in the periphery. Key words: HAND, Vpr, entropy, signature amino acid residue, Tyrosine, Histidine.

Although mental health screenings are not routinely conducted in rugby, the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool - Fifth Edition (SCAT-5) is widely performed and measures affective, cognitive, sleep, and physical symptoms. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the SCAT-5 to explore its potential as a mental health screening tool.During preseason for the 2021 Western Province Super League A in South Africa, clinicians conducted mental health assessments of 71 adult male rugby union players. The SCAT-5 Symptom Evaluation, Baron Depression Screener for Athletes (BDSA), Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were compared to each other and to fully structured diagnostic interviews by mental health professionals using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 7.0.2.Lifetime MINI-defined mental disorders were common, being identified in 33.8% (95% CI 22.79-46.17%). Only 4.29% of participants had a previous diagnosis. Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated a mental health construct of depression/anxiety being measured by the SCAT-5. The SCAT-5 had strong internal consistency (α = 0.94) and showed moderate convergent validity with the CES-D (r = 0.34; p = 0.008) and GAD-7 (r = 0.49; p 0.0001). The area under the curve for the ability of the SCAT-5 to identify current disorders was 0.87 (p = 0.003), on par with the CES-D and GAD-7.Since the SCAT-5 has the potential to identify depression and anxiety, it may allow mental health screening without the need for additional measures. Follow-up studies should further explore its discriminative ability in larger samples.

BACKGROUND: The intellectually demanding modern workplace is often dependent on good cognitive health, yet there is little understanding of how neurocognitive dysfunction related to HIV presents in employed individuals working in high risk vocations like driving. HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment is also associated with poorer long term cognitive, health and employment outcomes. SETTING: This study, set in Cape Town, South Africa, assessed the effects of HIV on neuropsychological test performance in employed male professional drivers. METHOD: We administered a neuropsychological test battery spanning seven cognitive domains and obtained behavioral data, anthropometry, and medical biomarkers from three groups of professional drivers (68 men with HIV, 55 men with cardiovascular risk, and 81 controls). We compared the drivers’ cognitive profiles, and used multiple regression modelling to investigate whether between-group differences persisted after considering potentially confounding sociodemographic and clinical variables (i.e., income, home language, depression, and Framingham Risk Score). RESULTS: Relative to other study participants, professional drivers with HIV performed significantly more poorly on tests assessing processing speed (p

Variation and differential selection pressures on Tat genes have been shown to alter the biological function of the protein, resulting in pathological consequences in a number of organs including the brain. We evaluated the impact of genetic variation and selection pressure on 147 HIV-1 subtype C Tat exon 1 sequences from monocyte-depleted peripheral lymphocytes on clinical diagnosis of neurocognitive impairment. Genetic analyses identified two signature amino acid residues, lysine at codon 24 (24K) with a frequency of 43.4% and arginine at codon 29 (29R) with a frequency of 34.0% in individuals with HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. The analyses also revealed two signature residues, asparagine, 24 N (31.9%), and histidine, 29H (21.3%), in individuals without neurocognitive impairment. Both codons, 24 and 29, were associated with high entropy but only codon 29 was under positive selection. The presence of signature K24 increased by 2.08 times the risk of neurocognitive impairment, 3.15 times higher proviral load, and 69% lower absolute CD4 T-cell count compared to those without the signature. The results support a linkage between HIV-1 C Tat N24K polymorphism, proviral load, immunosuppression, and neurocognitive impairment. The signature may induce more neurotoxic effects, which contributes to establishment and severity of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment.

Contains fulltext : 248376.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) For many traits, males show greater variability than females, with possible implications for understanding sex differences in health and disease. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium presents the largest-ever mega-analysis of sex differences in variability of brain structure, based on international data spanning nine decades of life. Subcortical volumes, cortical surface area and cortical thickness were assessed in MRI data of 16,683 healthy individuals 1-90 years old (47% females). We observed significant patterns of greater male than female between-subject variance for all subcortical volumetric measures, all cortical surface area measures, and 60% of cortical thickness measures. This pattern was stable across the lifespan for 50% of the subcortical structures, 70% of the regional area measures, and nearly all regions for thickness. Our findings that these sex differences are present in childhood implicate early life genetic or gene-environment interaction mechanisms. The findings highlight the importance of individual differences within the sexes, that may underpin sex-specific vulnerability to disorders.

Special Issue: The ENIGMA Consortium: the first 10 years., Delineating the association of age and cortical thickness in healthy individuals is critical given the association of cortical thickness with cognition and behavior. Previous research has shown that robust estimates of the association between age and brain morphometry require large-scale studies. In response, we used cross-sectional data from 17,075 individuals aged 3–90 years from the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to infer age-related changes in cortical thickness. We used fractional polynomial (FP) regression to quantify the association between age and cortical thickness, and we computed normalized growth centiles using the parametric Lambda, Mu, and Sigma method. Interindividual variability was estimated using meta-analysis and one-way analysis of variance. For most regions, their highest cortical thickness value was observed in childhood. Age and cortical thickness showed a negative association; the slope was steeper up to the third decade of life and more gradual thereafter; notable exceptions to this general pattern were entorhinal, temporopolar, and anterior cingulate cortices. Interindividual variability was largest in temporal and frontal regions across the lifespan. Age and its FP combinations explained up to 59% variance in cortical thickness. These results may form the basis of further investigation on normative deviation in cortical thickness and its significance for behavioral and cognitive outcomes., European Community's Seventh Framework Programme, Grant/Award Numbers: 278948, 602450, 603016, 602805; US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Grant/Award Numbers: RO1HD050735, 1009064, 496682; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland; ICTSI NIH/NCRR, Grant/Award Number: RR025761; European Community's Horizon 2020 Programme, Grant/Award Numbers: 667302, 643051; Vici Innovation Program, Grant/Award Numbers: #91619115, 016-130-669; NWO Brain & Cognition Excellence Program, Grant/Award Number: 433-09-229; Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (Netherlands) (BBMRI-NL); Spinozapremie, Grant/Award Number: NWO-56-464-14192; Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure, Grant/Award Numbers: 184.033.111, 184.021.007; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW), Grant/Award Numbers: 480-15-001/674, 024.001.003, 911-09-032, 056-32-010, 481-08-011, 016-115-035, 31160008, 400-07-080, 400-05-717, 451-04-034, 463-06-001, 480-04-004, 904-61-193, 912-10-020, 985-10-002, 904-61-090; NIMH, Grant/Award Number: R01 MH090553; Geestkracht programme of the Dutch Health Research Council, Grant/Award Number: 10-000-1001; FP7 Ideas: European Research Council; Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Grant/Award Numbers: NWO/SPI 56-464-14192, NWO-MagW 480-04-004, 433-09-220, NWO 51.02.062, NWO 51.02.061; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Grant/Award Number: UL1 TR000153; National Center for Research Resources; National Center for Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health, Grant/Award Numbers: NIH 1U24 RR025736-01, NIH 1U24 RR021992; NIH Institutes contributing to the Big Data to Knowledge; U.S. National Institutes of Health, Grant/Award Numbers: R01 CA101318, P30 AG10133, R01 AG19771; Medical Research Council, Grant/Award Numbers: U54EB020403, G0500092; National Institute of Mental Health, Grant/Award Numbers: R01MH117014, R01MH042191; Fundación Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, Grant/Award Numbers: API07/011, NCT02534363, NCT0235832; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Grant/Award Numbers: PI14/00918, PI14/00639, PI060507, PI050427, PI020499; Swedish Research Council, Grant/Award Numbers: 523-2014-3467, 2017-00949, 521-2014-3487; South-Eastern Norway Health Authority; the Research Council of Norway, Grant/Award Number: 223273; South Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, Grant/Award Numbers: 2017-112, 2019107; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013), Grant/Award Number: 602450; National Institutes of Health, Grant/Award Numbers: R01 MH116147, R01 MH113619, R01 MH104284; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

BackgroundDespite a high prevalence of problematic substance use among people living with HIV in South Africa, there remains limited access to substance use services within the HIV care system. To address this gap, our team previously developed and adapted a six-session, peer-delivered problem-solving and behavioral activation-based intervention (Khanya) to improve HIV medication adherence and reduce substance use in Cape Town. This study evaluated patient and provider perspectives on the intervention to inform implementation and future adaptation.MethodsFollowing intervention completion, we conducted semi-structured individual interviews with patients (n = 23) and providers (n = 9) to understand perspectives on the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of Khanya and its implementation by a peer. Patients also quantitatively ranked the usefulness of individual intervention components (problem solving for medication adherence ‘Life-Steps’, behavioral activation, mindfulness training, and relapse prevention) at post-treatment and six months follow-up, which we triangulated with qualitative feedback to examine convergence and divergence across methods.ResultsPatients and providers reported high overall acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of Khanya, although there were several feasibility challenges. Mindfulness and Life-Steps were identified as particularly acceptable, feasible, and appropriate components by patients across methods, whereas relapse prevention strategies were less salient. Behavioral activation results were less consistent across methods.ConclusionsFindings underscore the importance of examining patients’ perspectives on specific intervention components within intervention packages. While mindfulness training and peer delivery models were positively perceived by consumers, they are rarely used within task-shared behavioral interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

Diagnosing HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment in most high-burden, but resource-constrained, settings is difficult due to the unavailability of specialist neurologists and neuropsychologists in primary health care centers. New tests that are easy to perform, based on virological and host immune response biomarkers, may be valuable in the diagnosis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder. The receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was used to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of threshold/cutoff concentrations for the peripheral lymphocyte proviral load and plasma biomarkers as diagnostic candidates for neurocognitive impairment in 133 HIV-infected individuals, using global deficit scores as the clinical gold standard. Forty-five (33.83%) of the participants had HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment, with 17.29% being mildly impaired and 16.54% moderately impaired. IL-2 had the best performance as a diagnostic tool for neurocognitive impairment with sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 52%, while the lowest performance was IL-6 with 65% sensitivity and 39% specificity. MIP-1α had the highest precision for the cutoff value, as indicated by the narrow 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.23-3.27), followed by IL-2 with 95% CI (3.02-5.12). RANTES had least precision, as shown by the widest 95% CI (135-9,487.61). For clinical markers of HIV diagnosis and monitoring, the lymphocyte proviral load cutoff value of 145 genome copies/million cells had the highest accuracy with 60% sensitivity and 51% specificity. The plasma viral load had an imperfect balance of 46% sensitivity and 78% specificity. The study demonstrated low to medium diagnostic accuracy of plasma cytokine biomarker cutoff values for defining neurocognitive impairment in people living with HIV.

Background: Normative modeling is a statistical approach to quantify the degree to which a particular individual-level measure deviates from the pattern observed in a normative reference population. When applied to human brain morphometric measures it has the potential to inform about the significance of normative deviations for health and disease. Normative models can be implemented using a variety of algorithms that have not been systematically appraised. Methods: To address this gap, eight algorithms were compared in terms of performance and computational efficiency using brain regional morphometric data from 37,407 healthy individuals (53% female; aged 3-90 years) collated from 87 international MRI datasets. Performance was assessed with the mean absolute error (MAE) and computational efficiency was inferred from central processing unit (CPU) time. The algorithms evaluated were Ordinary Least Squares Regression (OLSR), Bayesian Linear Regression (BLR), Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS), Parametric Lambda, Mu, Sigma (LMS), Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), Warped Bayesian Linear Regression (WBLG), Hierarchical Bayesian Regression (HBR), and Multivariable Fractional Polynomial Regression (MFPR). Model optimization involved testing nine covariate combinations pertaining to acquisition features, parcellation software versions, and global neuroimaging measures (i.e., total intracranial volume, mean cortical thickness, and mean cortical surface area). Findings: Statistical comparisons across models at PFDR

We followed adolescents and adults living with HIV aged older than 15 years who enrolled in a South African private-sector HIV programme to examine adherence and viral non-suppression (viral load 400 copies/mL) of participants with (20,743, 38%) and without (33,635, 62%) mental health diagnoses. Mental health diagnoses were associated with unfavourable adherence patterns. The risk of viral non-suppression was higher among patients with organic mental disorders [adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-1.96], substance use disorders (aRR 1.53, 95% CI 1.19-1.97), serious mental disorders (aRR 1.30, 95% CI 1.09-1.54), and depression (aRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.10-1.28) when compared with patients without mental health diagnoses. The risk of viral non-suppression was also higher among males, adolescents (15-19 years), and young adults (20-24 years). Our study highlights the need for psychosocial interventions to improve HIV treatment outcomes-particularly of adolescents and young adults-and supports strengthening mental health services in HIV treatment programmes.Monitoreamos adolescentes y adultos mayores de 15 años que viven con VIH y que están registrados en un programa privado Surafricano para el tratamiento del VIH. Nuestro propósito fue examinar adherencia a los medicamentos y supresión viral (carga viral 400 copias/mL) en los participantes con (20,743, 38%) y sin (33,635, 62%) diagnósticos de salud mental. Los diagnósticos de salud mental estuvieron asociados con patrones de adherencia desfavorables. Comparados con pacientes sin diagnósticos de salud mental, el riesgo de no supresión viral fue más alto entre pacientes con desórdenes mentales orgánicos [riesgo relativo ajustado (aRR) 1.55, 95% intervalo de confidencia (CI) 1.22–1.96], desórdenes en el uso de sustancias (aRR 1.53, 95% CI 1.19–1.97), desórdenes mentales serios (aRR 1.30, 95% CI 1.09–1.54), y depresión (aRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.10–1.28). El riesgo de no supresión viral también fue más alto en hombres que en mujeres, en adolescentes (15–19 años), y en adultos jóvenes. Nuestro estudio resalta la necesidad de intervenciones psicosociales para mejorar los resultados del tratamiento contra el VIH –particularmente en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes—, y respalda el fortalecimiento de servicios de salud mental como parte de los programas para el tratamiento del VIH.

Objective Although many studies report that women with HIV (WWH) are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment than men with HIV (MWH), this trend is not described consistently in the literature. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated whether the weight of evidence supports the existence of a significant sex difference in cognitive functioning among people with HIV and, if so, whether specific domains are affected. Method A systematic literature search retrieved 4,062 unique articles published between January 2000 and June 2019. Eligibility criteria were that studies directly compared adult WWH and MWH using a neuropsychological test battery. After extensive screening, we included 11 studies in the systematic review (N = 3,333) and 6 in the meta-analysis (N = 2,852). Results Six studies included in the systematic review found WWH performed significantly more poorly on measures of cognitive performance than MWH; the other five found no sex differences. Meta-analytic results indicated that WWH performed significantly more poorly than MWH in three cognitive domains (psychomotor coordination, visuospatial learning, and memory), but magnitudes of effect sizes were small (d = −.16, −.43, and − .30, respectively). Analyses detected no sex differences in global cognitive functioning and in the other cognitive domains. Conclusions Sex differences in cognitive performance are small, and sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics of WWH and MWH differ between studies. Cognitive differences between WWH and MWH may be explained by sex-based variation in these characteristics, the impact of which seems to outweigh that of HIV-related clinical variables (e.g., CD4 count and viral load).

Pregnant and postpartum women (PPW) in sub-Saharan Africa are at disproportionately high risk of HIV infection compared to non-pregnant women. When used consistently, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can prevent HIV acquisition and transmission to the foetus or infant during these critical periods. Recent studies have demonstrated associations between mental health challenges (e.g. depression and traumatic stress associated with intimate partner violence) and decreased PrEP adherence and persistence, particularly among adolescents, younger women and women in the postpartum period. However, mental health is not currently a major focus of PrEP implementation research and programme planning for PPW.PrEP implementation programmes for PPW need to assess and address mental health barriers to consistent PrEP use to ensure effectiveness and sustainability in routine care. We highlight three key research priorities that will support PrEP adherence and persistence: (1) include mental health screening tools in PrEP implementation research with PPW, both to assess the feasibility of integrating these tools into routine antenatal and postpartum care and to ensure that limited resources are directed towards women whose symptoms may interfere most with PrEP use; (2) identify cross-cutting, transdiagnostic psychological mechanisms that affect consistent PrEP use during these periods and can realistically be targeted with intervention in resource-limited settings; and (3) develop/adapt and test interventions that target those underlying mechanisms, leveraging strategies from existing interventions that have successfully mitigated mental health barriers to antiretroviral therapy use among people with HIV.For PPW, implementation of PrEP should be guided by a robust understanding of the unique psychological difficulties that may act as barriers to uptake, adherence and persistence (i.e. sustained adherence over time). We strongly encourage PrEP implementation research in PPW to incorporate validated mental health screening tools and ultimately treatment in routine antenatal and postnatal care, and we stress the potential public health benefits of identifying women who face mental health barriers to PrEP use.

There is wide variation in the reported prevalence of cognitive impairment in people with HIV (PWH). Part of this variation may be attributable to different studies using different methods of combining neuropsychological test scores to classify participants as either cognitively impaired or unimpaired. Our aim was to determine, in a South African cohort of PWH (N = 148), (a) how much variation in reported rates was due to method used to define cognitive impairment and (b) which method correlated best with MRI biomarkers of HIV-related brain pathology. Participants completed detailed neuropsychological assessment and underwent 3 T structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We used the neuropsychological data to investigate 20 different methods of determining HIV-associated cognitive impairment. We used the neuroimaging data to obtain volumes for cortical and subcortical grey matter and total white matter and DTI metrics for several white matter tracts. Applying each of the 20 methods to the cognitive dataset resulted in a wide variation (20–97%) in estimated rates of impairment. Logistic regression models showed no method was associated with HIV-related neuroimaging abnormalities as measured by structural volumes or DTI metrics. We conclude that for the population from which this sample was drawn, much of the variation in reported rates of cognitive impairment in PWH is due to the method of classification used, and that none of these methods accurately reflects biological effects of HIV in the brain. We suggest that defining HIV-associated cognitive impairment using neuropsychological test performance only is insufficient; pre-morbid functioning, co-morbidities, cognitive symptoms, and functional impairment should always be considered.

The authors investigated South African psychiatry residents’ satisfaction with their training, physical, and mental health to inform the development of a strategy to improve the quality and experiences of training. A cross-sectional online survey was undertaken to assess the factors affecting residents’ satisfaction with their current training program. The authors conducted a comparative analysis of residents across the training institutions in South Africa. Of 179 psychiatry residents in the country, 70 responses were received (39.1% response rate). Most were satisfied with the overall quality of their training, various aspects of training, and access to training resources. However, significant differences across universities were identified with regard to residents’ perception of the quality of their training, quality of their experiences, access to training resources, quality of supervision, and clinical workload. More than a quarter were dissatisfied with their mental and/or physical health. The top four factors contributing to stress were all training-related. While most residents were satisfied with their specialist training, institutional differences in access to training and training resources, quality of training, and availability of quality supervision were evident and need to be addressed to ensure equitable training. There is a need to actively address staff shortages not only for clinical cover during protected academic time but also to meet training needs. A centralized examination process should remain in place to ensure that there is a national standard. Workplace-based assessments could facilitate standardization across institutions, should these assessments be standardized and accompanied by rigorous training of supervisors.

Central nervous system dysfunction, associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, remains a significant clinical concern, affecting at least 50% of infected people. Imbalances in cytokine expression levels have been linked to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma cytokine levels as predictor neurocognitive impairment in HIV infection using a multiplex profiling kit. Stepwise regression model was used to identify cytokine biomarkers of overall and domain-specific cognitive performance. Higher interleukin (IL)-2 (

This study aimed to identify alcohol use patterns associated with viral non-suppression among women living with HIV (WLWH) and the extent to which adherence mediated these relationships. Baseline data on covariates, alcohol consumption, ART adherence, and viral load were collected from 608 WLWH on ART living in the Western Cape, South Africa. We defined three consumption patterns: no/light drinking (drinking ≤ 1/week and ≤ 4 drinks/occasion), occasional heavy episodic drinking (HED) (drinking > 1 and ≤ 2/week and ≥ 5 drinks/occasion) and frequent HED (drinking ≥ 3 times/week and ≥ 5 drinks/occasion). In multivariable analyses, occasional HED (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.78–5.30) and frequent HED (OR 7.11, 95% CI 4.24–11.92) were associated with suboptimal adherence. Frequent HED was associated with viral non-suppression (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.30–3.28). Suboptimal adherence partially mediated the relationship between frequent HED and viral non-suppression. Findings suggest a direct relationship between frequency of HED and viral suppression. Given the mediating effects of adherence on this relationship, alcohol interventions should be tailored to frequency of HED while also addressing adherence.

Mental health and neurocognitive functioning remain a concern among people living with HIV. Symptomatic neurocognitive impairment (NCI) and mental illness can cause difficulties in daily functioning, including problems adhering to treatment. However, many healthcare workers in resource-limited settings have limited knowledge about the relationship between HIV and NCI. A synthesis of available literature on mental health and NCI training provided to healthcare workers delivering HIV services in Africa, is lacking. We conducted a scoping review of published literature to identify training interventions which targeted healthcare workers providing careto people with HIV in Africa. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. One study focused on NCI, two studies mentioned HIV-associated dementia and seven studies were centred on common mental health disorders. Most studies used a multi-method training approach, with pre-and post-testing as the main evaluation technique. This review highlights the gap in training interventions addressing NCI in Africa. Although there is some commitment to building capacity for mental health and NCI assessment among healthcare workers in this setting, this review suggests that there is a need for research to develop and evaluate training interventions for healthcare workers delivering HIV services in Africa.

The prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (H-NCI) is concerning. Individuals on effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) may still be at risk for H-NCI as they experience longer life expectancies. There are, however, few professionals with knowledge and skills to identify H-NCI, in low- and middle-income countries. We explored qualitatively, primary healthcare workers’ knowledge and views of H-NCI, in the era of effective ART, particularly their views toward task-sharing of H-NCI screening from specialists to mid-level or lay healthcare providers. The first phase of data collection involved two focus group discussions (FGDs) 23 primary healthcare workers from two facilities in the Western Cape participated in the FGDs. In the second phase of data collection12 individual, in-depth interviews were conducted in KwaZulu-Natal. Using thematic analysis, several key themes emerged. Although healthcare providers were unable to specifically identify H-NCI, they described several HIV disease and treatment related or mental health comorbidities that could be responsible for the symptoms. Despite healthcare workers reporting low frequencies of H-NCI, they favoured receiving training to screen for H-NCI with a view toward providing holistic care.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and ensuing restrictions have negatively affected the mental health and well-being of the general population, and there is increasing evidence suggesting that lockdowns have led to a disruption of health services. In March 2020, South Africa introduced a lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entailing the suspension of all non-essential activities and a complete ban of tobacco and alcohol sales. We studied the effect of the lockdown on mental health care utilisation rates in private-sector care in South Africa.We conducted an interrupted time-series analysis using insurance claims from 1 January 2017 to 1 June 2020 of beneficiaries 18 years or older from a large private sector medical insurance scheme. We calculated weekly outpatient consultation and hospital admission rates for organic mental disorders, substance use disorders, serious mental disorders, depression, anxiety, other mental disorders, any mental disorder and alcohol withdrawal syndrome. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the effect of the lockdown on weekly outpatient consultation and hospital admission rates and the weekly change in rates during the lockdown until 1 June 2020.710 367 persons were followed up for a median of 153 weeks. Hospital admission rates (OR 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.44) and outpatient consultation rates (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.63-0.87) for any mental disorder decreased substantially after the introduction of the lockdown and did not recover to pre-lockdown levels by 1 June 2020. Health care utilisation rates for alcohol withdrawal syndrome doubled after the introduction of the lockdown, but the statistical uncertainty around the estimates was large (OR 2.24; 95% CI 0.69-7.24).Mental health care utilisation rates for inpatient and outpatient services decreased substantially after the introduction of the lockdown. Hospital admissions and outpatient consultations for alcohol withdrawal syndrome increased after the introduction of the lockdown, but statistical uncertainty precludes strong conclusions about a potential unintended effect of the alcohol sales ban. Governments should integrate strategies for ensuring access and continuity of essential mental health services during lockdowns in pandemic preparedness planning.

IntroductionMental disorders are highly prevalent among people living with HIV and are associated with adverse HIV treatment outcomes. We assessed HIV treatment outcomes in patients with and without mental health diagnoses by sex and age.MethodsUsing hospital, outpatient and pharmacy claims and laboratory data from 2011 to 2020, we followed HIV-positive adolescents and adults aged ≥15 years who enrolled in a South African private sector HIV treatment programme. We performed a longitudinal trajectory analysis to identify patients with similar adherence patterns and examined associations between mental health diagnoses and adherence patterns using multinomial logistic regression. We examined non-adherence and viral non-suppression (VNS, viral load >400 copies/mL) in patients with and without mental health diagnoses by sex and age using mixed-effects Poisson regression models.Results54,378 patients were followed for a median of 3.5 years (IQR 1.9-6.4), 20,743 (38%) of whom had received a mental health diagnosis. 90% of patients had HIV viral load ConclusionOur study highlights the need for psychosocial interventions to improve HIV treatment outcomes, particularly for adolescents and young adults, and supports strengthening mental health services in paediatric and general HIV treatment programs.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, and prevalence rates are high among people living with HIV (PLWH), particularly in men. Depression is also common among PLWH, especially among smokers, who may use tobacco to manage mood. Although HIV and depression have been linked to functional impairment and poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL), little research has examined the degree to which smoking impacts these relationships in low and middle-income countries with high HIV burden. METHOD: Participants (N = 289) were people living with HIV (PLWH) who were being assessed for inclusion in a study targeting depression as a barrier to HIV medication adherence. Linear regression models measured the effect of gender on tobacco use (assessed by the WHO-ASSIST) and on each of the five HRQOL functional impairment domains (assessed by the SF-21). Separate multivariable regression models examined the relationships between habitual tobacco use, defined as daily, almost daily, or weekly use, and the HRQOL domains. RESULTS: The prevalence of habitual tobacco use was 23.9% (48.1% among men, 15.5% among women). Habitual tobacco use was associated with decreased cognitive functioning for the whole sample (B = −8.99, p < .05) and with lower levels of pain-related impairment for men (B = 18.1, p < .05). Although men reported more tobacco use (B = 8.50, p < .001), they reported less pain-related limitations than women (B = 8.70, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, men reported higher rates of habitual tobacco use than women. Smoking was associated with cognitive impairment and with less pain-related impairment among men. Future smoking cessation treatments tailored to PLWH who have symptoms of depression may benefit from strategies that consider pain management as a pathway to habitual smoking and recognize that motivations for use may differ by gender.

Objective To explore health care providers’ views on the acceptability and feasibility of two models for integrating facility-based counsellor delivered mental health counselling into chronic disease care, and how such an approach could be improved in South Africa. Methods Fourteen focus group discussions and 25 in-depth individual interviews were conducted with 109 health care workers and facility managers from 24 primary health clinics in the Western Cape, South Africa. Results Findings suggested that despite recent efforts to integrate mental health counselling into chronic disease services for common mental disorders, there remains limited availability of psychosocial and psychological counselling. Feedback on the two models of integration suggested equipoise and the potential of a hybrid approach where these approaches may be tailored to the specific needs and available resources of each facility. Participants identified constraints within the health system and broader social context that require consideration for integrating mental health counselling into chronic disease care. Conclusion Although study participants unanimously agreed that counselling for common mental disorders should be integrated into chronic disease services, they had differing views on the type of model that should be adopted. There is a need for further testing of the two models and aspects of the health service that may require strengthening to implement any such model.

Driving ability can be diminished amongst people with HIV with associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI). We explore the relationship between HIV status, NCI and driving ability in professional truck drivers. Forty male professional drivers (20 HIV-positive; mean age = 39.20 ± 7.05) completed a neuropsychological test battery, two driving simulator tasks that assessed driving ability, and a driving history and habits questionnaire. A higher proportion of HIV-positive drivers exhibited impaired overall cognitive performance (p ≤ 0.001). Overall, drivers with NCI (defined as z ≤ 1.00) were more likely than those without NCI to crash (p = 0.002). There were no significant between-group (HIV-positive versus HIV-negative) differences with regard to self-reported on-road driving events. Professional drivers with NCI, as measured on a driving simulator, are at increased risk of making driving errors under high-risk conditions compared to their neurocognitively normal counterparts. These data should inform driver health management with regard to annual medical screening and surveillance.La capacidad de conducción puede verse disminuida entre las personas con VIH con deterioro neurocognitivo asociado (neurocognitive impairment, NCI). Exploramos la relación entre la situación frente al VIH, el NCI y la capacidad de conducción en conductores profesionales de camiones. Cuarenta conductores profesionales masculinos (20 seropositivos, edad media = 39.20 ± 7.05) completaron una batería de pruebas neuropsicológicas, dos tareas de simulador de conducción que evaluaron la capacidad de conducción y un cuestionario de hábitos y antecedentes de conducción. Una mayor proporción de conductores VIH positivos exhibió un desempeño cognitivo general deficiente (p ≤ 0.001). En general, los conductores con NCI (definido como z ≤ 1.00) tenían más probabilidades de chocar que aquellos sin NCI (p = 0.002). No hubo diferencias significativas entre los grupos (VIH positivo frente a VIH negativo) con respecto a los eventos autoinformados de conducción en carretera. Los conductores profesionales con NCI, según lo medido en un simulador de conducción, tienen un mayor riesgo de cometer errores de conducción en condiciones de alto riesgo en comparación con sus homólogos neurocognitivamente normales. Estos datos deberían informar a la gestión de la salud del conductor en lo que respecta a la vigilancia y los exámenes médicos anuales.

South Africa (SA) has the most people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) globally and prevalent alcohol use. Beliefs that mixing alcohol and antiretroviral therapy (ART) can lead to adverse reactions may promote ART nonadherence. Healthcare providers (n = 11) and patients (n = 19) recruited from primary HIV and substance use care in SA described their messages, beliefs, and behaviors around simultaneous use of alcohol and ART. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis: (1) most providers indicated a message shift to reflect harm reduction principles: PLWH should manage alcohol use but not let it interfere with taking ART; however, (2) patients recalled conflicting messages from their providers and some displayed interactive toxicity beliefs and behaviors. Despite progress demonstrated by 2016 national adherence guidelines and shifted provider messaging, interactive toxicity beliefs remain a barrier to ART adherence. Results have implications for the adaptation of adherence counseling to minimize the impact of alcohol use on HIV treatment.

South Africa (SA) has the largest HIV/AIDS burden globally. In SA, substance use is prevalent and interferes with HIV treatment adherence and viral suppression, yet is not routinely treated in HIV care. More research is needed to adapt scalable, evidence-based therapies for substance use for integration into HIV care in SA. Behavioral activation (BA), originally developed as an efficacious therapy for depression, has been feasibly delivered to treat depression in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and to treat substance use in high-income settings. Yet, to date, there is limited research on implementing BA for substance use in LMICs. Guided by the ADAPT-ITT framework, this study sought to adapt BA therapy for substance use in HIV care in SA. We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with patients (n=19), and HIV care providers and substance use treatment therapists (n=11) at two clinic sites in a peri-urban area of Cape Town. We enrolled patients with moderate/severe substance use (WHO-ASSIST≥4) and detectable viral load, and HIV providers and substance use treatment therapists across roles and disciplines. We assessed patient and provider/therapist views on the appropriateness of the BA therapy model and sought feedback on Xhosa-translated BA therapy components. Participants identified the central role of boredom in contributing to substance use and saw the BA therapy model as highly appropriate. Participants identified church and religious practices, sports, and yard and housework as relevant substance-free activities in this community. These findings will inform adaptations to BA therapy for substance use and HIV medication adherence in this setting.

BackgroundSubstance use is prevalent in South Africa and associated with poor HIV treatment outcomes, yet, it is largely unaddressed in HIV care. Implementing an evidence-based, task-shared intervention for antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and substance use integrated into HIV care may be a feasible and effective way to improve HIV treatment outcomes and reduce substance use in this population.MethodsGuided by the RE-AIM framework, a randomized, hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial (n = 60) is being used to evaluate a peer-delivered intervention that integrates evidence-based intervention components, including Life-Steps (problem solving and motivational skills for HIV medication adherence), behavioral activation to increase alternative, substance-free rewarding activities in one’s environment, and relapse prevention skills, including mindfulness. The comparison condition is enhanced standard of care, which includes facilitating a referral to a local substance use treatment clinic (Matrix). Participants are followed for a period of 6 months. Implementation outcomes are defined by Proctor’s model for implementation and include mixed methods evaluations of feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity, and barriers and facilitators to implementation. Primary patient-level effectiveness outcomes are ART adherence (Wisepill) and substance use (WHO-ASSIST and urinalysis); viral load is an exploratory outcome.DiscussionResults of this trial will provide important evidence as to whether peer delivery of an integrated intervention for ART adherence and substance use is feasible, acceptable, and effective. Implementation outcomes will provide important insight into using peers as an implementation strategy to extend task sharing models for behavioral health in resource-limited settings globally.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govidentifier:NCT03529409. Trial registered on May 18, 2018.

AimsIn March 2020, South Africa introduced a lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entailing the suspension of all non-essential activities and a complete ban of tobacco and alcohol sales. We studied the effect of the lockdown on mental health care utilisation rates in private-sector care in South Africa.MethodsWe did an interrupted time series analysis using insurance claims from January 1, 2017, to June 1, 2020 of beneficiaries 18 years or older from a large private sector medical aid scheme. We calculated weekly outpatient consultation and hospital admission rates for organic mental disorders, substance use disorders, serious mental disorders, depression, anxiety, other mental disorders, any mental disorder, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the effect of the lockdown on weekly outpatient consultation and hospital admission rates and the weekly change in rates during the lockdown until June 1, 2020.Results710,367 persons were followed up for a median of 153 weeks. Hospital admission rates (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.33–0.44) and outpatient consultation rates (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.63–0.87) for any mental disorder decreased substantially after the lockdown and did not recover to pre-lockdown levels until June 1, 2020. Health care utilisation rates for alcohol withdrawal syndrome doubled after the introduction of the lockdown, but the statistical uncertainty around the estimates was large (OR 2.24; 95% CI 0.69-7.24).ConclusionsReduced mental health care contact rates during the COVID-19 lockdown likely reflect a substantial unmet need for mental health services with potential long-term consequences for mental health patients and their families. Steps to ensure access and continuity of mental health services during future lockdowns should be considered.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic had a global impact on health systems and the delivery of health services, including for chronic conditions such as HIV. In South Africa, impacts on HIV services have widely been quantitatively described. Across different health settings, patients have also qualitatively described numerous negative impacts to their HIV care. However, patient perspectives on COVID-19 impacts to HIV care in South Africa, the largest HIV care system in the world, have been little explored to date. Methods We conducted 29 semi-structured individual interviews with people living with HIV ( n = 24) and providers ( n = 5) in Cape Town, South Africa. Results While most patient participants reported continued access to HIV treatment during the pandemic, many described perceiving that the quality of their care declined. Increased structural barriers were described as one contributing factor to this change. Additionally, patients described that reduced privacy in clinical interactions was a key factor negatively influencing their experience of receiving care. Conclusion Findings underscore the importance of ensuring patient privacy for HIV services even during the rearrangement of services in emergencies. It is also important to continue developing models to integrate community mental health services within HIV care delivery in South Africa.

INTRODUCTION: Despite efforts to detect and treat problematic substance use (SU) among people living with HIV (PLWH) in South Africa, integration of HIV and SU services is limited. We sought to understand whether PLWH and problematic SU were: (a) routinely referred to SU treatment, a co-located Matrix clinic, (b) used SU treatment services when referred, and (c) the individual amount spent on SU. METHODS: Guided by the RE-AIM implementation science framework, we examined patient-level quantitative screening and baseline data from a pilot clinical trial for medication adherence and problematic SU. Qualitative data came from semi-structured interviews with HIV care providers (N = 8), supplemented by patient interviews (N = 15). RESULTS: None of the screened patient participants (N = 121) who were seeking HIV care and had problematic SU were engaged in SU treatment, despite the freely available co-located SU treatment program. Only 1.5% of the enrolled patient study sample (N = 66) reported lifetime referral to SU treatment. On average, patients with untreated SU spent 33.3% (SD=34.5%) of their monthly household income on substances. HIV care providers reported a lack of clarity about the SU referral process and a lack of direct communication with patients about patients' needs or interest in receiving an SU referral. DISCUSSION: SU treatment referrals and uptake were rare among PLWH reporting problematic SU, despite the high proportion of individual resources allocated to substances and the co-located Matrix site. A standardized referral policy between the HIV and Matrix sites may improve communication and uptake of SU referrals.

Little is known about gender effects of alcohol and drug use (AOD) among people living with HIV (PLWH) in resource-limited settings. Using multilevel models, we tested whether gender moderated the effect of Khanya, a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based intervention addressing antiretroviral (ART) adherence and AOD reduction. We enrolled 61 participants from HIV care and examined outcomes at 3- and 6-months compared to enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU). Gender significantly moderated the effect of Khanya on ART adherence (measured using electronically-monitored and biomarker-confirmed adherence), such that women in Khanya had significantly lower ART adherence compared to men in Khanya; no gender differences were found for AOD outcomes. Exploratory trajectory analyses showed men in Khanya and both genders in ETAU had significant reductions in at least one AOD outcome; women in Khanya did not. More research is needed to understand whether a gender lens can support behavioral interventions for PLWH with AOD.Trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03529409. Trial registered on May 18, 2018.

BACKGROUND: Despite HIV and problematic drinking often co-occurring in South Africa (SA), limited research has examined how HIV stigma relates to alcohol outcomes, how alcohol stigma relates to HIV outcomes, or moderators of these associations. This study examined the intersection of HIV/alcohol stigmas on HIV/alcohol outcomes and the role of avoidant behavior in moderating these relationships in SA. METHODS: We assessed biomarker-verified measures of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, HIV viral load (VL), and alcohol consumption, and self-reported measures of internalized HIV/alcohol stigmas, avoidant behavior, ART adherence, and problematic drinking—alcohol use that will likely lead to health or other problems—cross-sectionally among people with HIV (PWH) and problematic drinking (N=64). Regression analyses with interaction terms were conducted. FINDINGS: A significant relationship was found between internalized alcohol stigma and VL suppression, with higher levels of alcohol stigma associated with a lower likelihood of suppression (OR=1.68, 95%CI[1.11–2.65], p=0.02). Avoidance significantly moderated the relationship between internalized HIV stigma and problematic drinking. Higher HIV stigma was associated with lower problematic drinking only at low levels of avoidance (b(SE)=−1.92(.85), p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to examine associations between HIV and alcohol stigmas, avoidance, and both HIV and alcohol outcomes in SA. Findings contribute to our understanding of how alcohol stigma relates to biological HIV outcomes, and the role of avoidance in the relationship between internalized HIV stigma and problematic drinking. Findings may inform future clinical interventions to reduce the impact of stigma on HIV treatment outcomes and alcohol use among PWH in SA.

Dysregulated expression of neuro-immune markers has previously been linked to HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. We undertook an exploratory approach in a HIV clade-C cohort, investigating the association between eight immune markers and neurocognitive performance in 99 HIV+ and 51 HIV- participants. Markers were selected on preliminary and putative evidence of their link to key neuro-immune functions. Cognitive performance was established using a battery of tests sensitive to HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment, with domain-based scores utilized in analysis. The markers Thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP) and Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were significantly higher while Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)9 was significantly lower in HIV+ participants. Our results further showed that in the HIV+ group, worse psychomotor processing speed was associated with higher TYMP and NGAL levels and worse motor function was associated with higher NGAL levels. Future studies should explore the underlying mechanisms of these markers in HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. Graphical Abstract The association of peripheral immune markers with neurocognitive performance in South African HIV-positive patients.

South Africa is home to the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Alongside the HIV/AIDS epidemic, problematic alcohol and other drug (AOD) use is prevalent and associated with poor HIV treatment and secondary HIV prevention outcomes. International guidelines and local policy both support the integration of mental health care and AOD treatment into HIV care, yet barriers exist to implementation. This study aimed to explore patient and provider perspectives on the integration of HIV and AOD treatment services in Cape Town, South Africa. This included barriers and facilitators to task sharing AOD treatment in HIV care and preferences for a task shared approach to integrating AOD treatment in HIV care, including who should deliver the behavioural intervention. We conducted thirty semi-structured qualitative interviews with HIV and AOD treatment staff, providers, and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) with moderate, problematic AOD use and difficulties (personal or structural) adhering to HIV treatment. Findings illustrated several key themes: (1) the separation between AOD and HIV services (a "siloed treatment experience"), even in the context of geographic co-location; (2) low AOD treatment literacy among HIV patients and providers, including a low awareness of existing AOD use services, even when co-located; (3) substance use stigma as a barrier to HIV and AOD treatment integration; (4) a strong patient preference for peer interventionists; and (5) the role of community health workers (CHWs) in detecting AOD use among some PLWH who had not followed up in HIV care. These findings will inform a future type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial, guided by the RE-AIM framework, to evaluate a task shared, evidence-based intervention to address problematic AOD use and improve HIV medication adherence in this setting.

Purpose of review Cognitive disorders remain a major global burden with an estimated 47 million people living with dementia worldwide. Rates of cognitive disorders are expected to grow, especially as the global population ages. Global trends also indicate that about half of the global population lives in urban settings. To help guide future research, as well as the development of targeted and tailored interventions to prevent and care for people living with cognitive disorders, we present an up-to-date review and summary of the literature examining cognitive disorders and urbanization. Recent findings We reviewed the literature between January 2017 and September 2018 on cognitive disorders and urbanization. We found that rates of dementia among urban dwellers tends to be lower than those of rural dwellers. Leading theories explaining this difference tend to focus on better access to higher quality education, as well as public and health services among urban dwellers. We also found that greater exposure to air and noise pollutants may negatively impact cognition. Summary The reasons why older adults living in urban settings appear to have lower rates of dementia and better performance on cognitive measures are not well understood. Furthermore, the definitions of urban and rural and cognitive disorder, as well as how they are measured vary greatly between studies, making comparisons difficult.

Psychological distress symptoms like depression and anxiety are potentially dangerous conditions in HIV positive individuals influencing health-seeking behaviour, care and treatment leading to poor health outcomes. This study sought to determine the prevalence of psychological distress symptoms and associated socio-demographic and health-related factors amongst HIV positive individuals. The study used the 2012 data from a nationwide cross-sectional population-based household survey that was conducted using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with psychological distress among HIV positive individuals. Of 2 536 HIV infected individuals found in the study, 34.5% reported psychological distress symptoms. The prevalence of reported psychological distress symptoms was significantly higher among females (38.2%) than males (28.5%). Increased likelihood of psychological distress among HIV positive males was significantly associated with residing in urban informal areas than urban formal areas [OR=2.5(95% CI: 1.2-5.6), p=0.021], not engaging in vigorous intensity sport [OR=2.1 (95% CI: 1.2-3.8), p=0.009]. The decreased likelihood was significantly associated with being employed [OR=0.6 (95% CI: 0.4-1.0), p=0.066], not having any chronic condition [OR=0.5(95% CI: (0.3-1.0), p=0.037], and low risk drinkers than hazardous drinkers [OR=0.3(95% CI: 0.1-0.9), p=0.036]. Among HIV positive females, increased likelihood of psychological distress was significantly associated with never seeing a health personnel [OR=2.8 (95% CI: 1.2-6.7), p=0.022]. The decreased likelihood was significantly associated with seeing a health personnel more than one year ago than in the past 6 months [OR=0.7 (95% CI: 0.4-1.0), p=0.051], and not having any chronic conditions [OR=0.6 (95% CI: 0.5-0.9), p=0.017]. The findings suggest a need for integrated interventions including those addressing mental health issues which target HIV positive individuals in urban informal areas, the unemployed, hazardous risk drinkers, and those with chronic medical conditions.

HIV-infected women who have experienced sexual violence face unique challenges in their HIV care engagement and adherence to antiretroviral medications (ARVs). Improving AIDS Care after Trauma (ImpACT) is a brief counseling intervention aimed at reducing the negative impact of sexual trauma and HIV, building coping skills, and improving long-term HIV care engagement. We conducted a randomized controlled pilot trial of ImpACT with 64 women initiating ARVs in Cape Town, South Africa, with results suggesting the intervention can reduce PTSD symptoms and increase motivation to adhere to ARVs. For the current study, we abstracted data from ImpACT worksheets completed by 31 participants during intervention sessions, and qualitative responses from post-intervention surveys, to examine mechanisms, facilitators, and barriers to change in the intervention. Data included participant descriptions of the values informing their care, barriers to participation, and perceived benefits of the intervention related to coping with trauma and improving care engagement. During the first session, women reported feelings of shame, sadness, and anger that led to social isolation, mistrust, and damaged relationships. Barriers to participation included work and school demands, issues with transportation, finances, and discomfort in talking about HIV and trauma, particularly in group sessions. Despite these challenges, several women stated they developed more positive thinking, felt more confident, and improved their interpersonal relationships. Participants also reported substantial positive impact on symptoms of sexual trauma and motivation to continue with long-term HIV care, and clearer understanding of barriers and facilitators to ARV adherence. ImpACT is a promising intervention model for building adaptive coping skills and adherence to HIV treatment, informed by personal values, among women with a history of trauma in this high-risk setting. The data also offer insights into strategies to strengthen the intervention, overcome barriers to participation, encourage the practical application of skills, and promote long-term HIV care engagement.