Face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led: Understanding the preferences for behavioral health services among people with HIV in Lesotho
Behavioral treatments can help people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) improve their quality of life and treatment adherence. In Lesotho, where a fifth of adults live with HIV and depression and harmful alcohol use is prevalent among this group, little is known about the local suitability of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425125100174/type/journal_article |
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| author | Grace H. Yoon Natalie E. Johnson Moleboheng Mokebe Palesa Mahlatsi Malebanye Lerotholi Niklaus D. Labhardt Nadine Tschumi Alastair van Heerden Jennifer M. Belus Irene Falgas-Bague |
| author_facet | Grace H. Yoon Natalie E. Johnson Moleboheng Mokebe Palesa Mahlatsi Malebanye Lerotholi Niklaus D. Labhardt Nadine Tschumi Alastair van Heerden Jennifer M. Belus Irene Falgas-Bague |
| author_sort | Grace H. Yoon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Behavioral treatments can help people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) improve their quality of life and treatment adherence. In Lesotho, where a fifth of adults live with HIV and depression and harmful alcohol use is prevalent among this group, little is known about the local suitability of established behavioral treatment strategies. We explored preferences regarding two strategies evaluated in other settings: involving phones and trusted individuals in treatment. We thematically analyzed 28 semi-structured interviews with potential service users receiving routine HIV care in the Butha-Buthe and Mokhotlong districts. Key concerns included the feasibility of phone-based treatment in rural areas and issues of limited literacy, electricity and network coverage. Others highlighted potential benefits for younger and working individuals for phone-based treatment, preferring calls over texts. Involving trusted individuals in treatment was favored, as this could foster support and accountability. Behavioral issues related to depression and alcohol use were viewed as complex, requiring face-to-face attention from trusted professionals, such as nurses and counselors, who were seen as knowledgeable and capable of maintaining confidentiality. Peer providers were not favored due to privacy concerns. These findings emphasize the need for face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led approaches for integrating behavioral treatment into HIV care in Lesotho. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-28f3233e295d416cb13cb0e7338c67d2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2054-4251 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-28f3233e295d416cb13cb0e7338c67d22025-08-20T02:37:10ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512025-01-011210.1017/gmh.2025.10017Face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led: Understanding the preferences for behavioral health services among people with HIV in LesothoGrace H. Yoon0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3849-1947Natalie E. Johnson1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8379-1183Moleboheng Mokebe2Palesa Mahlatsi3Malebanye Lerotholi4Niklaus D. Labhardt5Nadine Tschumi6Alastair van Heerden7Jennifer M. Belus8Irene Falgas-Bague9Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel/University Hospital Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandDivision of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel/University Hospital Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandSolidarMed Lesotho, Butha Buthe, LesothoSolidarMed Lesotho, Butha Buthe, LesothoDivision of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel/University Hospital Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandDivision of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel/University Hospital Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandDivision of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel/University Hospital Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandSAMRC/WITS Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, https://ror.org/03rp50x72 University of the Witwatersrand , Johannesburg, South AfricaDivision of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel/University Hospital Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandDivision of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel/University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland Urban Public Health Unit, https://ror.org/03adhka07 Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute , Allschwil, SwitzerlandBehavioral treatments can help people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) improve their quality of life and treatment adherence. In Lesotho, where a fifth of adults live with HIV and depression and harmful alcohol use is prevalent among this group, little is known about the local suitability of established behavioral treatment strategies. We explored preferences regarding two strategies evaluated in other settings: involving phones and trusted individuals in treatment. We thematically analyzed 28 semi-structured interviews with potential service users receiving routine HIV care in the Butha-Buthe and Mokhotlong districts. Key concerns included the feasibility of phone-based treatment in rural areas and issues of limited literacy, electricity and network coverage. Others highlighted potential benefits for younger and working individuals for phone-based treatment, preferring calls over texts. Involving trusted individuals in treatment was favored, as this could foster support and accountability. Behavioral issues related to depression and alcohol use were viewed as complex, requiring face-to-face attention from trusted professionals, such as nurses and counselors, who were seen as knowledgeable and capable of maintaining confidentiality. Peer providers were not favored due to privacy concerns. These findings emphasize the need for face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led approaches for integrating behavioral treatment into HIV care in Lesotho.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425125100174/type/journal_articledepressionalcohol usebehavioral treatment preferencesLesothopeople with HIV |
| spellingShingle | Grace H. Yoon Natalie E. Johnson Moleboheng Mokebe Palesa Mahlatsi Malebanye Lerotholi Niklaus D. Labhardt Nadine Tschumi Alastair van Heerden Jennifer M. Belus Irene Falgas-Bague Face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led: Understanding the preferences for behavioral health services among people with HIV in Lesotho Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health depression alcohol use behavioral treatment preferences Lesotho people with HIV |
| title | Face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led: Understanding the preferences for behavioral health services among people with HIV in Lesotho |
| title_full | Face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led: Understanding the preferences for behavioral health services among people with HIV in Lesotho |
| title_fullStr | Face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led: Understanding the preferences for behavioral health services among people with HIV in Lesotho |
| title_full_unstemmed | Face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led: Understanding the preferences for behavioral health services among people with HIV in Lesotho |
| title_short | Face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led: Understanding the preferences for behavioral health services among people with HIV in Lesotho |
| title_sort | face to face confidential and health worker led understanding the preferences for behavioral health services among people with hiv in lesotho |
| topic | depression alcohol use behavioral treatment preferences Lesotho people with HIV |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425125100174/type/journal_article |
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