Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37116925›Full record

ArticleGlobal health, science and practice2023

Experiences of Justice-Involved People Transitioning to HIV Care in the Community After Prison Release in Lusaka, Zambia: A Qualitative Study.

Helene J Smith, Michael E Herce, Chilambwe Mwila, Peter Chisenga, Chisenga Yenga, Besa Chibwe, Vivien Mai, Lillian Kashela, Mirriam Nanyagwe, Sisa Hatwiinda and 5 more

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Global health, science and practice, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Pilot of Methadone for Recently Incarcerated People with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Opioid Use in South Africa.Journal of correctional health care : the official journal of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. 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

15 authors at 6 institutions in 4 countries.

Helene J SmithCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Michael E HerceCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Chilambwe MwilaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Peter ChisengaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Chisenga YengaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Besa ChibweCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Vivien MaiDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Lillian KashelaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Mirriam NanyagweCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Sisa HatwiindaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Clement N MoongaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Maurice MushekeCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Yotam LunguZambia Correctional Service, Government of the Republic of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Izukanji SikazweCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Stephanie M ToppCollege of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia · ZMJames Cook University · AUPublic Health Ontario · CAUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · USUniversity of Zambia · ZMUNSW Sydney · AU

Funding

Understanding Longitudinal Clinical Outcomes and Post-release Retention in Care among HIV-infected Prisoners in Lusaka, ZambiaK01TW010272 · FIC · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI HERCE, MICHAEL EMMANUEL · 2015 to 2018
$538k
FIC NIH HHS K01 TW010272
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIn sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), incarcerated people experience a higher HIV burden than the general population. While access to HIV care and treatment for incarcerated people living with HIV (PLHIV) in SSA has improved in some cases, little is known about their transition to and post-release experience with care in the community. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative study to describe factors that may influence post-release HIV care continuity in Zambia.

methodsIn March-December 2018, we recruited study participants from a larger prospective cohort study following incarcerated and newly released PLHIV at 5 correctional facilities in 2 provinces in Zambia. We interviewed 50 participants immediately before release; 27 (54%) participated in a second interview approximately 6 months post-release. Demographic and psychosocial data were collected through a structured survey.

resultsThe pre-release setting was strongly influenced by the highly structured prison environment and assumptions about life post-release. Participants reported accessible HIV services, a destigmatizing environment, and strong informal social supports built through comradery among people facing the same trying detention conditions. Contrary to their pre-release expectations, during the immediate post-release period, participants struggled to negotiate the health system while dealing with unexpected stressors. Long-term engagement in HIV care was possible for participants with strong family support and a high level of self-efficacy.

conclusionOur study highlights that recently released PLHIV in Zambia face acute challenges in meeting their basic subsistence needs, as well as social isolation, which can derail linkage to and retention in community HIV care. Releasees are unprepared to face these challenges due to a lack of community support services. To improve HIV care continuity in this population, new transitional care models are needed that develop client self-efficacy, facilitate health system navigation, and pragmatically address structural and psychosocial barriers like poverty, gender inequality, and substance use.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsPrisonsContinuity of Patient CareHumansProspective StudiesZambia

Identifiers

PMID37116925
PMCPMC10141426
OpenAlexW4366303846

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.