Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34627315›Full record

ArticleAIDS research and therapy2021

A realist evaluation of the continuum of HIV services for men who have sex with men.

Willy Dunbar, Marie Colette Alcide Jean-Pierre, Jacky S Pétion, Aline Labat, Nathalie Maulet, Yves Coppieters

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in AIDS research and therapy, 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
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Willy DunbarHealth Systems and Policies-International Health, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme - Bâtiment A, Route de Lennik 808 - CP591, 1070, Brussels, Belgium. willy.junior.dunbar@ulb.be.ORCID 0000-0002-9134-9288
Marie Colette Alcide Jean-PierreFaculté des Sciences de la Santé (FSSA), Université Quisqueya (UniQ), Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Jacky S PétionOrganization of Optimistic Professionals for the New Haiti (OPORHA), Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Aline LabatHealth Systems and Policies-International Health, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme - Bâtiment A, Route de Lennik 808 - CP591, 1070, Brussels, Belgium.
Nathalie MauletInstitute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain (UClouvain), Brussels, Belgium.
Yves CoppietersHealth Systems and Policies-International Health, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme - Bâtiment A, Route de Lennik 808 - CP591, 1070, Brussels, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMen who have Sex with Men (MSM) represent the risk group that are disproportionately most affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and continue to drop-off from the steps of the continuum of HIV services that have been adopted to overcome poor engagement and retention in care. This realist evaluation aimed at: (1) describing the evaluation carried out in Haiti aiming to ascertain why, how and under which circumstances MSM are linked and retained along the continuum, (2) assessing the outcomes of this approach and (3) exploring the motivators and facilitators for the HIV continuum of services through mechanisms and pathways.

methodsGuided by a realist approach, first, an initial program theory (IPT) was developed based on literature and frameworks review, participant observations and discussions with stakeholders. Then, the IPT was tested using a mixed method explanatory study: a quantitative phase to build the continuum from a cross-sectional analysis, and a qualitative phase to explore the motivators and facilitators related to proper linkages along the continuum. Finally, the IPT was refined by eliciting the mechanisms and pathways for outcomes improvement.

resultsThe results showed that the current service delivery model is suboptimal in identifying, engaging, linking and retaining MSM, resulting in loss to follow-up at every step of the continuum and failure to fully realize the health and prevention benefits of antiretroviral. However, the mechanisms through which linkages across the continuum can be improved are: self-acceptance, sense of community support and sense of comprehensive and tailored HIV services. These mechanisms are based on 10 different pathways: self-esteem, awareness and pride, perception of HIV risk, pcceptance and HIV status, addressing community stigma, strengthening of MSM organizations and community networks, societal acceptation and tolerance, stigma reduction training for healthcare providers, engagement of peers as educators and navigators and, adapted services delivery through drug dispensing points and mobile technology and financial assistance.

conclusionsThe study findings show that engagement, adherence and retention to the continuum of HIV service for MSM are affected by a multi-layer of factors, thus highlighting the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to improve the program.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsSexual and Gender MinoritiesCross-Sectional StudiesHealth Services AccessibilityHomosexuality, MaleHumansMaleContinuumHIVMen who have Sex with MenRealist evaluationStigma

Identifiers

PMID34627315
PMCPMC8502381

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.