Cardiometabolic disorders (CMD) such as hypertension and diabetes are increasingly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, placing people living with HIV at risk for cardiovascular disease and threatening ...the success of HIV care. Spouses are often the primary caregivers for people living with CMD, and understanding patients' and partners' conceptions of CMD could inform care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 couples having a partner living with HIV and either hypertension or diabetes. Couples were recruited from HIV clinics in Malawi and were interviewed on beliefs around symptoms, causation, prevention, and treatment for CMD. Data were analyzed at the individual and dyadic levels using framework analysis and Kleinman's theory of explanatory models as a lens. On average, participants were 51 years old and married for 21 years. Approximately 57%, 14%, and 80% had hypertension, diabetes, and HIV. Couples endorsed a combination of biomedical explanatory models (beliefs around physical and mental health) and traditional explanatory models (beliefs around religion and natural remedies), although tended to emphasize the biomedical model. Half of couples believed stress was the main cause of hypertension. For diabetes, diet was believed to be a common cause. In terms of prevention, dietary changes and physical activity were most frequently mentioned. For disease management, medication adherence and diet modifications were emphasized, with some couples also supporting herbal remedies, stress reduction, and faith in God as strategies. Participants were generally more concerned about CMD than HIV due to poor access to CMD medications and beliefs that CMD could lead to sudden death. Within couples, partners often held many of the same beliefs but diverged around which etiological or preventive factors were most important (e.g., stress versus diet) and the best diet for CMD. Health education programs should involve primary partners to build knowledge of CMD and address overlap with HIV, and reinforce accurate information on lifestyle factors for the prevention and treatment of CMD.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
HIV stigma can impact couple relationships through stress or bring partners closer through shared experiences. Conversely, couple relationships may protect against the harms of stigma, including ...anticipated stigma on negative health outcomes. Yet few studies have assessed the potential link between HIV stigma, relationship dynamics, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Using dyadic data from a cross-sectional study of Malawian couples living with HIV, we tested associations between anticipated stigma and: 1) relationship dynamics (e.g., trust, sexual satisfaction, communication) and partner support; and 2) self-reported ART adherence.
Heterosexual couples (211 couples, 422 individuals) with at least one partner on ART were recruited from clinics in Zomba, Malawi. Partners completed separate surveys on anticipated stigma, relationship dynamics, and ART adherence. Linear mixed models evaluated associations between anticipated stigma and relationship dynamics, and whether associations varied by gender. Generalized estimating equation models tested for associations between anticipated stigma and high ART adherence (90-100% vs. < 90%) at the individual level, and whether they were moderated by relationship dynamics at the couple level.
Couples' relationship length averaged 12.5 years, 66.8% were HIV sero-concordant, and 95.6% reported high ART adherence. In multivariable models, sexual satisfaction (β = -0.22, 95%CI = -0.41;-0.03, p = 0.020) and partner social support (β = -0.02, 95%CI = -0.04;-0.01, p < 0.01) were negatively associated with anticipated stigma. Significant interaction effects showed that adherence is moderated in couples with higher partner support and sexual satisfaction such that adherence is lowest when anticipated stigma is high and social support is low, and that adherence is lowest when anticipated stigma is high and sexual satisfaction is low.
Increased anticipated stigma is most associated with lower ART non-adherence at lower levels of social support and sexual satisfaction. Conversely, supportive and fulfilling relationships may buffer the negative association between stigma and ART adherence. Couples' interventions that focus on improving communication and support systems within couples could reduce the negative impacts of anticipated stigma on couples living with HIV.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Available data suggest that individual and family well-being are linked to the quality of women's and men's couple relationships, but few tools exist to assess couple relationship functioning in low- ...and middle-income countries. In response to this gap, Catholic Relief Services has developed a Couple Functionality Assessment Tool (CFAT) to capture valid and reliable data on various domains of relationship quality. This tool is designed to be used by interventions which aim to improve couple and family well-being as a means of measuring the effectiveness of these interventions, particularly related to couple relationship quality. We carried out a validation study of the CFAT among 401 married and cohabiting adults (203 women and 198 men) in rural Chikhwawa District, Malawi. Using psychometric scales, the CFAT addressed six domains of couple relationship quality (intimacy, partner support, sexual satisfaction, gender roles, decision-making, and communication and conflict management), and included questions on intimate partner violence. We used exploratory factor analysis to assess scale performance of each domain and produce a shortened Relationship Quality Index (RQI) composed of items from five relationship quality domains. This article reports the performance of the RQI. Internal reliability and validity of the RQI were found to be good. Regression analyses examined the relationship of the RQI to outcomes important to health and development: intra-household cooperation, positive health behaviors, intimate partner violence, and gender-equitable norms. We found many significant correlations between RQI scores and these couple- and family-level development issues. There is a need to further validate the tool with use in other populations as well as to continue to explore whether the observed linkages between couple functionality and development outcomes are causal relationships.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
People living with HIV (PLWH) are at increased risk of cardiometabolic disorders (CMD). Adequate access to care for both HIV and CMD is crucial to improving health outcomes; however, there is limited ...research that have examined couples' experiences accessing such care in resource-constrained settings. We aimed to identify barriers to accessing CMD care among PLWH in Malawi and the role of partners in mitigating these barriers.
We conducted a qualitative investigation of barriers to CMD care among 25 couples in Malawi. Couples were eligible if at least one partner was living with HIV and had hypertension or diabetes (i.e., the index patient). Index patients were recruited from HIV care clinics in the Zomba district, and their partners were enrolled thereafter. Interviews were conducted separately with both partners to determine barriers to CMD care access and how partners were involved in care.
Participants framed their experiences with CMD care by making comparisons to HIV treatment, which was free and consistently available. The main barriers to accessing CMD care included shortage of medications, cost of tests and treatments, high cost of transportation to health facilities, lengthy wait times at health facilities, faulty or unavailable medical equipment and supplies, inadequate monitoring of patients' health conditions, some cultural beliefs about causes of illness, use of herbal therapies as an alternative to prescribed medicine, and inadequate knowledge about CMD treatments. Partners provided support through decision-making on accessing medical care, assisting partners in navigating the healthcare system, and providing financial assistance with transportation and treatment expenses. Partners also helped manage care for CMD, including communicating health information to their partners, providing appointment reminders, supporting medication adherence, and supporting recommended lifestyle behaviors.
Couples identified many barriers to CMD care access, which were perceived as greater challenges than HIV care. Partners provided critical forms of support in navigating these barriers. With the rise of CMD among PLWH, improving access to CMD care should be prioritized, using lessons learned from HIV and integrated care approaches. Partner involvement in CMD care may help mitigate most barriers to CMD care.
Couple relationship functioning impacts individual health and well-being, including HIV risk, but scant research has focused on emic understandings of relationship quality in African populations. We ...explored relationship quality and satisfaction in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) using data from 148 in-depth interviews (117 life-course interviews with 28 adults and 31 interviews with 29 marriage counselors and their clients) and 4 focus group discussions. Love, respect, honesty, trust, communication, sexual satisfaction, and sexual faithfulness emerged as the most salient characteristics of good relationships, with both men and women emphasising love and respect as being most important. Participants desired relationships characterised by such qualities but reported relationship threats in the areas of trust, honesty, and sexual faithfulness. The dimensions of relationship quality identified by this study are consistent with research from other contexts, suggesting cross-cultural similarities in conceptions of a good relationship. Some relationship constructs, particularly respect, may be more salient in a Swazi context.
Abstract only
Introduction:
Social support from primary partners has wide-ranging impacts on disease management and health outcomes, although scant research has explored this topic for couples living ...with cardiometabolic disorders (CMD) in low-resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
Objectives:
To explore patterns of partner support around CMD in Malawian couples
Methods:
We conducted a qualitative study with 25 married couples in Malawi who had at least one partner with HIV and CMD (either hypertension or diabetes). Index patients were recruited from three HIV care clinics and primary partners were subsequently enrolled. We conducted semi-structured interviews with both partners to understand how couples cope together with CMD and offer social support. Data were coded for patterns and themes within couples and between couples and data matrices were used to summarize the findings.
Results:
Couples described three patterns of partner support.
Instrumental support
was provided by partners who offered money for medication, transportation to medical appointments, and healthy foods. Partners also provided reminders to take medication and attend medical appointments, accompanied patients to medical appointments, and monitored medication use. While household chores are typically women’s work, in some cases male partners helped with these activities when their wives were too ill or were experiencing what they believed were symptoms of CMD.
Emotional support
was provided by partners through encouragement to practice a healthy lifestyle (such as increasing physical activity and reducing salt intake), rest, and reduce stress and avoid arguing.
Informational support
was provided by partners who gave advice for successful management of CMD and in making health-related decisions such as food purchases.
Conclusions:
Social support from primary partners around disease management may partially ameliorate inadequate health services for people with CMD in sub-Saharan Africa. While there remains a need to fortify health systems and address barriers to accessing treatment, couple relationships could be leveraged in care services to provide key forms of social support.
Abstract only
Introduction:
People living with HIV are at increased risk for cardiometabolic disorders (CMD) due to chronic inflammation, immune activation, and antiretroviral therapy. In high HIV ...prevalence areas of sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about how HIV patients and their partners understand CMD and how health services could leverage partner support.
Objective:
To explore health beliefs among HIV patients with CMD and primary partners
Methods:
We conducted a qualitative study with 25 couples recruited from 3 HIV care clinics in Zomba, Malawi. Patients managing HIV and CMD (hypertension and/or diabetes) were enrolled first, followed by their primary partners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted separately with partners to elicit health beliefs around causality, prevention, and management of CMD. Dyadic data were coded for patterns and themes within couples and between couples, and data matrices were created to compare and contrast the findings.
Results:
Most participants believed that the main causes of CMD were diet, aging, and genetics, but some believed CMD was sexually transmitted or caused by viruses such as HIV. Within couples, diet and stress were the most commonly agreed-upon cause, and over half of couples believed “thinking too much” due to stress or couple conflict was a cause of CMD. Prevention beliefs included a healthy diet, exercise, avoiding HIV, using condoms, and keeping stress levels low. Management beliefs included dietary changes, taking medication or herbs, exercising, and reducing stress. Within couples, the most agreed-upon belief was that diet, particularly salt reduction, was important for prevention and management; however, within-dyad disagreement and incorrect beliefs around other aspects of a heart-healthy diet were common.
Conclusion:
While lifestyle factors were correctly identified as important for prevention and management of CMD, misconceptions remained around transmission through a virus or sex. Partners often differed in their views of CMD, which could interfere with CMD management. Health education programs are critically needed and involving partners may offer an opportunity to solidify knowledge in couples and foster collaborative disease management around CMD.
Couple relationships can be leveraged to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), but few studies have identified relationship factors to target in interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. We ...conducted a cross-sectional study with 211 couples in southern Malawi with at least one partner on ART to test for associations between ART adherence and relationship dynamics (intimacy, trust, relationship satisfaction, unity, commitment, and partner support). We measured ART adherence through subjective measures (patient and partner reports) and an objective measure (ART drug levels in hair) and hypothesized that more positive relationship dynamics (e.g., higher intimacy) would be associated with better adherence. Multi-level logistic and linear regression models were used to evaluate study hypotheses, controlling for the clustering of individuals within couples. High levels of adherence were found by all three measures. Unity, satisfaction, and partner support were associated with higher patient and partner reports of adherence, and additional relationship dynamics (intimacy, trust) were associated with higher partner reported adherence. No associations were found between relationship dynamics and drug levels in hair, although drug levels were high overall. Future studies should perform longitudinal assessments of relationship dynamics and objective metrics of adherence, and examine these associations in populations with lower adherence levels such as young women or individuals starting ART.
In sub-Saharan Africa, harmful alcohol use among male drinkers is high and has deleterious consequences on adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV clinical outcomes, and couple relationship ...dynamics. We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 25 Malawian couples on ART to understand how relationships influence adherence to ART, in which alcohol use emerged as a major theme. Almost half of men (40%) reported current or past alcohol use. Although alcohol use was linked to men’s non-adherence, women buffered this harm by encouraging husbands to reduce alcohol use and by offering adherence support when men were drinking. Men’s drinking interfered with being an effective treatment guardian for wives on ART and also weakened couple support systems needed for adherence. Relationship challenges including food insecurity, intimate partner violence, and extramarital relationships appeared to exacerbate the negative consequences of alcohol use on ART adherence. In this setting, alcohol may be best understood as a couple-level issue. Alcohol interventions for people living with HIV should consider approaches that jointly engage both partners.
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