Mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and harmful alcohol use are prevalent among people with chronic diseases, including HIV, and contribute to poor engagement in care. There is a need to address untreated mental health problems. Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline workers who play a central role in supporting vulnerable individuals to stay in care, including seeking people living with HIV who are newly initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) or re-initiating after a period of care disengagement. CHW-delivered interventions are promising for improving engagement and retention in care. Yet, these programs rarely address mental health -a significant barrier to chronic disease care engagement and treatment. An approach that moves beyond providing care in the clinic setting is needed. Community-delivered home-based mental health care has been shown to be feasible and acceptable and shows promise for integration into broader community health care services for people with chronic conditions, such as HIV.
at least 18 years old
must conduct home visits for people with HIV newly initiating or re-initiating ART at the approved clinic site
at least 18 years old
seen by a CHW after newly initiating or re-initiating ART in the past three months
None
University of Maryland, College Park
Lead sponsor
Medical Research Council, South Africa
Collaborator
Fogarty International Center of the National Institute of Health
Collaborator
Curtin University
Collaborator