Couple-centered HIV prevention and care: Endorsement, practice and uncertainty among us healthcare providers in western-central upstate New York.

Given the influence of provider perspective and practice in the uptake of HIV/STI prevention and care strategies, this qualitative descriptive design study sought to illuminate perspectives of couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) and describe couple/partner-based practices among health provider...

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Main Authors: Natalie M Leblanc, Sadandaula R Muheriwa-Matemba, Noelle St Vil, Danielle Alcena-Stiner, Keosha T Bond, Alexander Glazier, Luis Rosario-McCabe, Faith Lambert, Martez Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299185
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author Natalie M Leblanc
Sadandaula R Muheriwa-Matemba
Noelle St Vil
Danielle Alcena-Stiner
Keosha T Bond
Alexander Glazier
Luis Rosario-McCabe
Faith Lambert
Martez Smith
author_facet Natalie M Leblanc
Sadandaula R Muheriwa-Matemba
Noelle St Vil
Danielle Alcena-Stiner
Keosha T Bond
Alexander Glazier
Luis Rosario-McCabe
Faith Lambert
Martez Smith
author_sort Natalie M Leblanc
collection DOAJ
description Given the influence of provider perspective and practice in the uptake of HIV/STI prevention and care strategies, this qualitative descriptive design study sought to illuminate perspectives of couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) and describe couple/partner-based practices among health providers in New York State. We utilized a purposive sampling strategy to recruit health providers (N = 27). Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted from Sept. 2019 to Feb. 2021. Four themes emerged: perspectives on engaging partners and couples-centered sexual health promotion; providers' experiences with patients and partners in HIV prevention and care; provider endorsement of CHTC; and perceived CHTC implementation determinants. CHTC endorsement was prominently due to the perception of CHTC as a facilitator to enhance patient-provider engagement in HIV/STI treatment and care, especially in the communication and dissemination of information among partners. Providers reported that health literacy needs regarding HIV/STI testing and diagnosis, but primarily STIs treatment regimens warranted a joint approach. CHTC endorsement entailed the strategy's perceived ability to enhance sexual health literacy among patients and patient's partners. Lastly, CHTC endorsements entailed provider beliefs that it ensured knowledge equity and joint literacy in the communication of health information among health consumers. Determinants of CHTC implementation were factors that providers perceived to have a bearing on the facilitation or posed as barriers to jointly engage partners in HIV/STI prevention and care and was subsequently a source of provider uncertainty. These determinants ranged from provider-level factors to organizational capacity issues that could impact CHTC implementation. Recommendations for CHTC are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-f72b1a3f725142199cd8aba887babaae2025-08-20T03:52:48ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01202e029918510.1371/journal.pone.0299185Couple-centered HIV prevention and care: Endorsement, practice and uncertainty among us healthcare providers in western-central upstate New York.Natalie M LeblancSadandaula R Muheriwa-MatembaNoelle St VilDanielle Alcena-StinerKeosha T BondAlexander GlazierLuis Rosario-McCabeFaith LambertMartez SmithGiven the influence of provider perspective and practice in the uptake of HIV/STI prevention and care strategies, this qualitative descriptive design study sought to illuminate perspectives of couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) and describe couple/partner-based practices among health providers in New York State. We utilized a purposive sampling strategy to recruit health providers (N = 27). Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted from Sept. 2019 to Feb. 2021. Four themes emerged: perspectives on engaging partners and couples-centered sexual health promotion; providers' experiences with patients and partners in HIV prevention and care; provider endorsement of CHTC; and perceived CHTC implementation determinants. CHTC endorsement was prominently due to the perception of CHTC as a facilitator to enhance patient-provider engagement in HIV/STI treatment and care, especially in the communication and dissemination of information among partners. Providers reported that health literacy needs regarding HIV/STI testing and diagnosis, but primarily STIs treatment regimens warranted a joint approach. CHTC endorsement entailed the strategy's perceived ability to enhance sexual health literacy among patients and patient's partners. Lastly, CHTC endorsements entailed provider beliefs that it ensured knowledge equity and joint literacy in the communication of health information among health consumers. Determinants of CHTC implementation were factors that providers perceived to have a bearing on the facilitation or posed as barriers to jointly engage partners in HIV/STI prevention and care and was subsequently a source of provider uncertainty. These determinants ranged from provider-level factors to organizational capacity issues that could impact CHTC implementation. Recommendations for CHTC are discussed.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299185
spellingShingle Natalie M Leblanc
Sadandaula R Muheriwa-Matemba
Noelle St Vil
Danielle Alcena-Stiner
Keosha T Bond
Alexander Glazier
Luis Rosario-McCabe
Faith Lambert
Martez Smith
Couple-centered HIV prevention and care: Endorsement, practice and uncertainty among us healthcare providers in western-central upstate New York.
PLoS ONE
title Couple-centered HIV prevention and care: Endorsement, practice and uncertainty among us healthcare providers in western-central upstate New York.
title_full Couple-centered HIV prevention and care: Endorsement, practice and uncertainty among us healthcare providers in western-central upstate New York.
title_fullStr Couple-centered HIV prevention and care: Endorsement, practice and uncertainty among us healthcare providers in western-central upstate New York.
title_full_unstemmed Couple-centered HIV prevention and care: Endorsement, practice and uncertainty among us healthcare providers in western-central upstate New York.
title_short Couple-centered HIV prevention and care: Endorsement, practice and uncertainty among us healthcare providers in western-central upstate New York.
title_sort couple centered hiv prevention and care endorsement practice and uncertainty among us healthcare providers in western central upstate new york
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299185
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