LinkPositively+ An Enhanced Mobile Health App Delivered Intervention to Improve HIV Care Outcomes Among Black Women Affected by Mental Health and Violence
Guiding Right, Inc.
Summary
The investigative team will conduct a 2-arm randomized control trial to examine the preliminary effect of LinkPositively+ (LPP) an enhanced version of LinkPositively (LP) mobile app on improved HIV care outcomes including improved retention in HIV care, ART adherence, and viral suppression using hair sample analysis and passive electronic, medical record review, and secondarily, self-reported increased social support via activation of social support networks (i.e., assessed by utilization), self-efficacy, and utilization of ancillary support services at baseline, 3- and 6-month post enrollment. Black women living with HIV (WLHA) with a lifetime history of interpersonal violence, who have been linked to care but may have fallen out of care in the past year will be randomized 1:1 to either the LP arm or the LPP arm.
Description
In the US, Black WLHA are less likely to be engaged in care and adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART) than other racial groups. Black women account for 61% of diagnoses among all women; only 56% are retained in care and 49% are virally suppressed. HIV disparities are also observed in Oklahoma state, where Black women have HIV diagnosis rates that are 8 times higher than White women. Interpersonal violence; defined as physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse by a male intimate or non-intimate partner disproportionately affects Black women and is associated with poor outcomes along the HI…