Community-led interventions for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in Southern Africa: a scoping review

Abstract Background Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in containing the HIV epidemic worldwide. A few countries, primarily in Southern Africa, have met the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals. However, this does not warrant complacency. The contribution of communities to these gains is...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Enos Moyo, Perseverance Moyo, Grant Murewanhema, Rosemary Mhlanga-Gunda, Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-03-01
Series:Discover Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00468-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849761693654056960
author Enos Moyo
Perseverance Moyo
Grant Murewanhema
Rosemary Mhlanga-Gunda
Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
author_facet Enos Moyo
Perseverance Moyo
Grant Murewanhema
Rosemary Mhlanga-Gunda
Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
author_sort Enos Moyo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in containing the HIV epidemic worldwide. A few countries, primarily in Southern Africa, have met the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals. However, this does not warrant complacency. The contribution of communities to these gains is immeasurable. Therefore, there is a need to sustain and expand the involvement of communities in the testing, prevention, and treatment of HIV. Aim This study aims to assess the scope and outcomes of community-led HIV interventions conducted in Southern Africa. Study design This study followed a scoping review design. Data sources PubMed, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and Africa Journals Online (AJOL) databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2013 and 2023. Methodology The scoping review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. The reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Primary studies using mixed-methods, quantitative, and qualitative approaches that detailed HIV and AIDS community-led interventions carried out in Southern Africa were considered for this review. Two reviewers separately extracted the data from the included studies using a data extraction tool in Microsoft Excel. We used NVivo to develop codes and categories for the scope and outcomes of community-led interventions. Results Thirteen articles were included in this scoping review. Eleven of the studies were quantitative studies, one was a mixed-methods study, and another one was a qualitative study. Peer-based programs, adherence clubs, community conversations, support groups, community-based HIV testing, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) linkage are some of the community-led interventions found in this scoping review. The outcomes of these interventions include increased awareness of HIV and AIDS, decreased risky behaviours and stigma related to HIV, increased disclosure of partners' HIV status, increased testing for HIV, linkage to care, adherence to ART, retention in care, and viral suppression. Conclusion Based on the promise demonstrated in this review, further investment in and support for community-led HIV interventions in Southern Africa is justified. Scaling up these interventions, alongside robust evaluation efforts, holds significant potential to contribute to a more comprehensive and effective response to the HIV epidemic in the region.
format Article
id doaj-art-74215c104f064ee0a5b210893eeca539
institution DOAJ
issn 3005-0774
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Public Health
spelling doaj-art-74215c104f064ee0a5b210893eeca5392025-08-20T03:05:56ZengSpringerDiscover Public Health3005-07742025-03-0122111710.1186/s12982-025-00468-yCommunity-led interventions for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in Southern Africa: a scoping reviewEnos Moyo0Perseverance Moyo1Grant Murewanhema2Rosemary Mhlanga-Gunda3Tafadzwa Dzinamarira4School of Nursing & Public Health, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, College of Health SciencesMedical Centre OshakatiFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of ZimbabweFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Unit of Family Medicine, Global & Public Health, University of ZimbabweFaculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of PretoriaAbstract Background Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in containing the HIV epidemic worldwide. A few countries, primarily in Southern Africa, have met the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals. However, this does not warrant complacency. The contribution of communities to these gains is immeasurable. Therefore, there is a need to sustain and expand the involvement of communities in the testing, prevention, and treatment of HIV. Aim This study aims to assess the scope and outcomes of community-led HIV interventions conducted in Southern Africa. Study design This study followed a scoping review design. Data sources PubMed, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and Africa Journals Online (AJOL) databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2013 and 2023. Methodology The scoping review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. The reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Primary studies using mixed-methods, quantitative, and qualitative approaches that detailed HIV and AIDS community-led interventions carried out in Southern Africa were considered for this review. Two reviewers separately extracted the data from the included studies using a data extraction tool in Microsoft Excel. We used NVivo to develop codes and categories for the scope and outcomes of community-led interventions. Results Thirteen articles were included in this scoping review. Eleven of the studies were quantitative studies, one was a mixed-methods study, and another one was a qualitative study. Peer-based programs, adherence clubs, community conversations, support groups, community-based HIV testing, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) linkage are some of the community-led interventions found in this scoping review. The outcomes of these interventions include increased awareness of HIV and AIDS, decreased risky behaviours and stigma related to HIV, increased disclosure of partners' HIV status, increased testing for HIV, linkage to care, adherence to ART, retention in care, and viral suppression. Conclusion Based on the promise demonstrated in this review, further investment in and support for community-led HIV interventions in Southern Africa is justified. Scaling up these interventions, alongside robust evaluation efforts, holds significant potential to contribute to a more comprehensive and effective response to the HIV epidemic in the region.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00468-yHIVCommunity-led interventionsSouthern AfricaOutcomesScoping review
spellingShingle Enos Moyo
Perseverance Moyo
Grant Murewanhema
Rosemary Mhlanga-Gunda
Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
Community-led interventions for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in Southern Africa: a scoping review
Discover Public Health
HIV
Community-led interventions
Southern Africa
Outcomes
Scoping review
title Community-led interventions for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in Southern Africa: a scoping review
title_full Community-led interventions for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in Southern Africa: a scoping review
title_fullStr Community-led interventions for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in Southern Africa: a scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Community-led interventions for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in Southern Africa: a scoping review
title_short Community-led interventions for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in Southern Africa: a scoping review
title_sort community led interventions for hiv and aids prevention treatment and care in southern africa a scoping review
topic HIV
Community-led interventions
Southern Africa
Outcomes
Scoping review
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00468-y
work_keys_str_mv AT enosmoyo communityledinterventionsforhivandaidspreventiontreatmentandcareinsouthernafricaascopingreview
AT perseverancemoyo communityledinterventionsforhivandaidspreventiontreatmentandcareinsouthernafricaascopingreview
AT grantmurewanhema communityledinterventionsforhivandaidspreventiontreatmentandcareinsouthernafricaascopingreview
AT rosemarymhlangagunda communityledinterventionsforhivandaidspreventiontreatmentandcareinsouthernafricaascopingreview
AT tafadzwadzinamarira communityledinterventionsforhivandaidspreventiontreatmentandcareinsouthernafricaascopingreview