Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33726734›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2021

Importance of support groups to the health and well-being of vulnerable children and young people living with HIV: a case study of the Kids Clubs program in Haiti.

Susan K Settergren, Robert Philippe, Joanne St Louis, Nathaniel Segaren, Sylvie Boisson, Tessa Lewis, Olbeg Désinor, Kesner François

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Article in BMC health services research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
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4citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Susan K SettergrenPalladium, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC, 20004, USA. susan.settergren@thepalladiumgroup.com.
Robert PhilippeSociété d'Études et de Formation en Information Stratégique, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Joanne St LouisSociété d'Études et de Formation en Information Stratégique, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Nathaniel SegarenCaris Foundation, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Sylvie BoissonCaris Foundation, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Tessa LewisCaris Foundation, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Olbeg DésinorUnited States Agency for International Development, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Kesner FrançoisMinistère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Funding

Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (IR) IR. TBZMED. REC. 1397.1009
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among children and young people living with HIV has increased in recent years, adherence to medication and viral suppression remain challenges. Evidence of benefits of support groups is growing and reflects a range of models and approaches. Since 2014, hospital-linked psychosocial support groups for children and young people living with HIV, known as Kids Clubs, have been established throughout Haiti. The program provides safe spaces for them to meet with peers, supports medication adherence, delivers health and life skills education, and facilitates linkages with clinic visits and social services. This study describes program enrollment and participant engagement, ART adherence and viral suppression among participants, and other outcomes attributed to the program by participants, caregivers, and program implementers.

methodsOur mixed methods study included quantitative analysis of program monitoring data on rollout and attendance, and medication adherence and viral load results extracted from medical records. We collected qualitative data from club members, caregivers, and implementers about their experiences with the clubs and the impact of participation.

resultsFrom January 2014-December 2018, 1330 individuals aged 8-29 were enrolled in the program; over three-quarters participated for at least 12 months. In 2018, 1038 members attended at least one club meeting; more than half missed three or fewer monthly meetings. Three-quarters of ever-enrolled members reported consistent medication use at their most recent clinic visit; 64.2% (600/935) of those with a recent viral load test were virally suppressed. Level of club attendance was positively associated with ART adherence (p < 0.01) and viral suppression (p < 0.05). Club members, caregivers, and implementers noted the value of the clubs to participants' retention in care and medication adherence, health knowledge, and capacity to deal with peer pressure, stigma, shyness, and depression.

conclusionsThe Kids Club program has been successful in scaling HIV support services to highly vulnerable children and young people through peer-based groups, and program participation has led to a range of benefits. Efforts to innovate, evaluate, and scale support strategies for vulnerable young populations must be accelerated in order to ensure that they survive, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Indexed as

Anti-HIV AgentsHIV InfectionsAdolescentAdultChildHaitiHumansMedication AdherenceSelf-Help GroupsYoung AdultAnti-HIV AgentsAdolescentsARVDifferentiated careSocial supportViral suppression

Identifiers

PMID33726734
PMCPMC7967958

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.