Partner, Couple, and Social Network-Based Approaches

Couple-Based Interventions for Families

Project Dates:
03/2015 - 02/2021

Role:
Principal Investigator

Funder:
NIMH
K99/R00 MH104154

Project Dates:
12/2013 - 12/2014

Role:
Principal Investigator

Funder:
Center for AID Research (Developmental Award)
P30 AI50410

Developing and Evaluating a Male Engagement Intervention for Option B+ in Malawi

Supporting pregnant women living with HIV to invite their male partners for HIV testing has potential benefits for women, partners, and infants. In a randomized controlled trial we found that a couple-based intervention improved viral suppression outcomes for couples living with HIV.

Assessing Strategies for Increasing Male involvement in Malawi’s Option B+ Program

In Malawi’s antenatal setting, I led a randomized controlled trial demonstrating that voluntary assisted partner notification was more effective than passive referral for uptake of couple HIV testing and counseling. The strategy was acceptable and facilitated partner support. This trial was integral in changing World Health Organization recommendations and PEPFAR guidance around voluntary assisted partner notification.

    1. Rosenberg NE, Mtande TK, Saidi F, Stanley C, Jere E, Paile L, Kumwenda K, Mofolo I, Ng'ambi W, Miller WC, Hoffman I, Hosseinipour M. Recruiting male partners for couple HIV testing and counselling in Malawi's option B+ programme: an unblinded randomised controlled trial. Lancet HIV. 2015 Nov;2(11):e483-91. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3018(15)00182-4. Epub 2015 Oct 22. PMID: 26520928; PMCID: PMC4656790. [Full Text]

    2. Wesevich A, Hosseinipour MC, Golin CE, McGrath N, Tsidya M, Chimndozi L, Bhushan N, Hoffman I, Miller WC, Rosenberg NE. Female adherence self-efficacy before and after couple HIV testing and counseling within Malawi's Option B+ program. AIDS Care. 2020 Feb;32(2):170-174. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1634789. Epub 2019 Jun 25. PMID: 31238717; PMCID: PMC7302401. [Full Text]

    3. Bhushan NL, Golin CE, McGrath N, Maman S, Tsidya M, Chimndozi L, Wesevich A, Hoffman IF, Hosseinipour MC, Miller WC, Rosenberg NE. The impact of HIV couple testing and counseling on social support among pregnant women and their partners in Lilongwe, Malawi: an observational study. AIDS Care. 2019 Feb;31(2):199-206. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1510102. Epub 2018 Sep 5. PMID: 30182730; PMCID: PMC6322660. [Full Text]

    4. Simon KR, Flick RJ, Kim MH, Sabelli RA, Tembo T, Phelps BR, Rosenberg NE, Ahmed S. Family Testing: An Index Case Finding Strategy to Close the Gaps in Pediatric HIV Diagnosis. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2018 Aug 15;78 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S88-S97. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001731. PMID: 29994830; PMCID: PMC6047763. [Full Text]

    5. Rosenberg NE, Graybill LA, Wesevich A, McGrath N, Golin CE, Maman S, Tsidya M, Chimndozi L, Hoffman IF, Hosseinipour MC, Miller WC. Individual, Partner, and Couple Predictors of HIV Infection among Pregnant Women in Malawi: A Case-Control Study. AIDS Behav. 2018 Jun;22(6):1775-1786. doi: 10.1007/s10461-017-1947-7. PMID: 29086117; PMCID: PMC5927853. [Full Text]

    6. Rosenberg NE, Gross R, Mtande T, Maman S, Golin CE, Saidi F, Manthalu O, Hoffman I, Hosseinipour MC, Miller WC. "We have heard it together": a qualitative analysis of couple HIV testing and counselling recruitment in Malawi's Option B+ programme. Afr J AIDS Res. 2017 Sep;16(3):215-223. doi: 10.2989/16085906.2017.1362017. PMID: 28978289; PMCID: PMC6103295. [Full Text]

    7. Ahmed S, Sabelli RA, Simon K, Rosenberg NE, Kavuta E, Harawa M, Dick S, Linzie F, Kazembe PN, Kim MH. Index case finding facilitates identification and linkage to care of children and young persons living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi. Trop Med Int Health. 2017 Aug;22(8):1021-1029. doi: 10.1111/tmi.12900. Epub 2017 Jun 20. PMID: 28544728; PMCID: PMC5575466. [Full Text]

    8. Rosenberg NE, Graybill LA, Wesevich A, McGrath N, Golin CE, Maman S, Bhushan N, Tsidya M, Chimndozi L, Hoffman IF, Hosseinipour MC, Miller WC. The Impact of Couple HIV Testing and Counseling on Consistent Condom Use Among Pregnant Women and Their Male Partners: An Observational Study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017 Aug 1;75(4):417-425. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001398. PMID: 28426440; PMCID: PMC5493523. [Full Text]

    9. Wesevich A, Mtande T, Saidi F, Cromwell E, Tweya H, Hosseinipour MC, Hoffman I, Miller WC, Rosenberg NE. Role of male partner involvement in ART retention and adherence in Malawi's Option B+ program. AIDS Care. 2017 Nov;29(11):1417-1425. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1308464. Epub 2017 Mar 29. PMID: 28355926; PMCID: PMC6372085. [Full Text]

    10. Rosenberg NE, Graybill LA, Mtande T, Nthani T, McGrath N, Golin CE, Maman S, Morotho J, Banda B, Nyirenda R, Hoffman I, Hosseinipour M, Miller WC. The impact of a couple-based intervention on one-year viral suppression among HIV-infected pregnant women in Malawi: a randomized controlled trial. International AIDS Society, July 2021, A-IAS2021-00248 (poster presentation). [Link to Poster]

    11. Huffstetler HE, Krysiak R, Tegha G, Tembo Z, Graybill L, Mtande T, Nthani T, Nyirenda R, Hosseinipour M, Miller WC, Rosenberg NE. Factors associated with recent HIV infection among pregnant women in Lilongwe: a case control study. HIV Pediatrics 2021, July 16, 2021 (oral poster walk). [Link to Abstract]

PRACTICE

Project Dates:
07/2020 - 05/2025

Role:
Principal Investigator

Funder:
NIMH
R01 MH124526

Enhancing HIV assisted contact tracing in Malawi through blended learning: an implementation science study (Package of Resources for Assisted Contact Tracing: Implementation, Costs, and Effectiveness)

Asking health workers to assist people living with HIV with recruitment of their sexual contacts is an effective and efficient way of identifying persons in need of HIV treatment and prevention. However, health workers lack the counseling and coordination skills to routinely assist clients with these services. This study found that a set of digital capacity-building tools could improve health care worker skills and ultimately impact clinical outcomes.

    1. Rosenberg NE, Tembo TA, Simon KR, Mollan K, Rutstein SE, Mwapasa V, Masiano S, Huffstetler HE, Go V, Kim MH. Development of a Blended Learning Approach to Delivering HIV-Assisted Contact Tracing in Malawi: Applied Theory and Formative Research. JMIR Form Res. 2022 Apr 19;6(4):e32899. doi: 10.2196/32899. PMID: 35438644; PMCID: PMC9066333. [Full Text]

    2. Meek CJ, Munkhondya TEM, Mphande M, Tembo TA, Chitani M, Jean-Baptiste M, Vansia D, Kumbuyo C, Wang J, Simon KR, Rutstein SE, Barrington C, Kim MH, Go VF, Rosenberg NE. Examining the feasibility of assisted index case testing for HIV case-finding: a qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators to implementation in Malawi. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 May 9;24(1):606. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-10988-z. PMID: 38720312; PMCID: PMC11080127. [Full Text]

    3. Tembo TA, Mollan K, Simon K, Rutstein S, Chitani MJ, Saha PT, Mbeya-Munkhondya T, Jean-Baptiste M, Meek C, Mwapasa V, Go V, Bekker LG, Kim MH, Rosenberg NE. Does a blended learning implementation package enhance HIV index case testing in Malawi? A protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2024 Jan 22;14(1):e077706. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077706. PMID: 38253452; PMCID: PMC10806658. [Full Text]

    4. Tembo TA, Simon KR, Kim MH, Chikoti C, Huffstetler HE, Ahmed S, Mang'anda C, Chu SQ, Manyeki R, Kavuta E, Majoni R, Phiri D, Kalanga A, Rosenberg NE. Pilot-Testing a Blended Learning Package for Health Care Workers to Improve Index Testing Services in Southern Malawi: An Implementation Science Study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2021 Dec 15;88(5):470-476. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002796. PMID: 34483296; PMCID: PMC8585717. [Full Text]

    5. Tembo TA, Kim MH, Simon KR, Ahmed S, Beyene T, Wetzel E, Machika M, Chikoti C, Kammera W, Chibowa H, Nkhono Z, Kavuta E, Kazembe PN, Rosenberg NE. Enhancing an HIV index case testing passive referral model through a behavioural skills-building training for healthcare providers: a pre-/post-assessment in Mangochi District, Malawi. J Int AIDS Soc. 2019 Jul;22 Suppl 3(Suppl Suppl 3):e25292. doi: 10.1002/jia2.25292. PMID: 31321917; PMCID: PMC6639699. [Full Text]

    6. Tembo TA, Ahmed S, Rosenberg NE. Assisted partner services for people with HIV who inject drugs. Lancet Glob Health. 2024 May;12(5):e731-e732. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00086-X. PMID: 38614623. [Full Text]

    7.  Rosenberg NE, Tembo TA. Implementing HIV Assisted Partner Services in routine settings. Lancet Glob Health. 2023 May;11(5):e642-643. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00159-6. PMID: 37061301. [Full Text]

Social Network Study

Project Dates:
01/2010 - 12/2010

Role:
Co-Investigator

PI:
Ronald Swanstrom

Funder:
Center for AIDS Research
P30 AI50410

Recruitment of High Risk Persons through Social Contacts of Individuals with STDs and HIV

Members of the same peer group may present with similar patterns of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. This “proof-of-concept” study assessed whether it was feasible to recruit the peer groups of high risk individuals, and whether such peer groups display higher rates of STDs and HIV.

    1. Rosenberg NE, Stanley CC, Rutstein SE, Bonongwe N, Kamanga G, Pettifor A, Mapanje C, Martinson F, Hoffman IF, Miller WC. Recruiting the social contacts of patients with STI for HIV screening in Lilongwe, Malawi: process evaluation and assessment of acceptability. Sex Transm Infect. 2016 Dec;92(8):587-592. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2015-052496. Epub 2016 May 13. PMID: 27177775; PMCID: PMC5290540. [Full Text]

    2. Rosenberg NE, Kamanga G, Pettifor AE, Bonongwe N, Mapanje C, Rutstein SE, Ward M, Hoffman IF, Martinson F, Miller WC. STI patients are effective recruiters of undiagnosed cases of HIV: results of a social contact recruitment study in Malawi. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2014 Apr 15;65(5):e162-9. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000066. PMID: 24759065; PMCID: PMC3999477. [Full Text]

Tonse Pamodze

Project Dates:
12/2016 - 11/2021

Role:
Co-Investigator

PI:
Benjamin Chi

Funder:
NIAID
R01 AI131060-05

A Dyad Approach to Combination HIV Prevention in Pregnancy for Zambia and Malawi

Women in sub-Saharan Africa face a high risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although programs have expanded rapidly to prevent perinatal HIV transmission in Zambia and Malawi, there remain many missed opportunities for combination HIV prevention for pregnant women and their partners. We address this implementation gap by designing and evaluating a multi-component HIV prevention package for this often overlooked population.

    1. Chi BH, Saidi F, Graybill LA, Phanga T, Mollan KR, Amico KR, Freeborn K, Rosenberg NE, Hill LM, Hamoonga T, Richardson B, Kalua T, Phiri S, Mutale W. A Patient-Centered, Combination Intervention to Support Adherence to HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: A Randomized Pilot Study in Malawi. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2024 Jan 1;95(1):42-51. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000003309. PMID: 37757844; PMCID: PMC10873086. [PubMed]

    2. Kumwenda A, Weideman AMK, Graybill LA, Dinwiddie MK, Freeborn K, Lusaka MM, Lungu R, Mutale W, Rosenberg NE, Kasaro M, Mollan KR, Chi BH. Two strategies for partner notification and partner HIV self-testing reveal no evident predictors of male partner HIV testing in antenatal settings: A secondary analysis. Int J STD AIDS. 2023 Dec;34(14):1004-1011. doi: 10.1177/09564624231188746. Epub 2023 Jul 12. PMID: 37436402; PMCID: PMC10652660. [Full Text]

    3. Saidi F, Phanga T, Graybill LA, Mollan KR, Hill LM, Sibande W, Msowoya G, Thom A, Rosenberg NE, Freeborn K, Amico KR, Phiri S, Mutale W, Chi BH. Acceptability of a Combination Adherence Strategy to Support HIV Antiretroviral Therapy and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Adherence During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Malawi. AIDS Behav. 2023 Dec;27(12):4022-4032. doi: 10.1007/s10461-023-04116-x. Epub 2023 Jul 1. PMID: 37392270. [PubMed]

    4. Powers KA, Mutale W, Rosenberg NE, Graybill LA, Mollan KR, Freeborn K, Saidi F, Maman S, Mulenga PL, Jahn A, Nyirenda RK, Stringer JSA, Vermund SH, Chi BH. Combination HIV prevention during pregnancy and the post-partum period in Malawi and Zambia: a mathematical modelling analysis. J Int AIDS Soc. 2023 Jul;26(7):e26128. doi: 10.1002/jia2.26128. PMID: 37403422; PMCID: PMC10320044. [Full Text]

    5. Hampanda KM, Pelowich K, Freeborn K, Graybill LA, Mutale W, Jones KR, Saidi F, Kumwenda A, Kasaro M, Rosenberg NE, Chi BH. Strategies to increase couples HIV testing and counselling in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. J Int AIDS Soc. 2023 Mar;26(3):e26075. doi: 10.1002/jia2.26075. PMID: 36929284; PMCID: PMC10020817. [Full Text]

    6. Mutale W, Freeborn K, Graybill LA, Lusaka MM, Mollan KR, Mweemba O, Kasaro M, Lungu R, Kumwenda A, Saidi F, Powers KA, Maman S, Rosenberg NE, Chi BH. Addition of HIV self-test kits to partner notification services to increase HIV testing of male partners of pregnant women in Zambia: two parallel randomised trials. Lancet Glob Health. 2021 Dec;9(12):e1719-e1729. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00393-4. Epub 2021 Nov 1. PMID: 34735862; PMCID: PMC8644317. [Full Text]

    7. Mweemba O, Zimba C, Chi BH, Chibwe KF, Dunda W, Freeborn K, Maman S, Matenga TFL, Phanga T, Rosenberg N, Mutale W. Contextualising men's role and participation in PMTCT programmes in Malawi and Zambia: A hegemonic masculinity perspective. Glob Public Health. 2022 Aug-Sep;17(9):2081-2094. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2021.1964559. Epub 2021 Aug 10. PMID: 34375155. [Full Text]

    8. Hill LM, Saidi F, Freeborn K, Amico KR, Rosenberg NE, Maman S, Phanga T, Tsidya M, Chirwa S, Zimba C, Mutale W, Chi BH. Tonse Pamodzi: Developing a combination strategy to support adherence to antiretroviral therapy and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during pregnancy and breastfeeding. PLoS One. 2021 Jun 25;16(6):e0253280. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253280. PMID: 34170913; PMCID: PMC8232532. [Full Text]

    9. Saidi F, Mutale W, Freeborn K, Rosenberg NE, Graybill LA, Maman S, Amico KR, Mollan KR, Phanga T, Milala B, Hill LM, Gottwalt AM, Phiri S, Kalua T, Chi BH. Combination adherence strategy to support HIV antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence during pregnancy and breastfeeding: protocol for a pair of pilot randomised trials. BMJ Open. 2021 Jun 30;11(6):e046032. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046032. PMID: 34193491; PMCID: PMC8246367. [Full Text]

    10. Graybill LA, Kasaro M, Freeborn K, Walker JS, Poole C, Powers KA, Mollan KR, Rosenberg NE, Vermund SH, Mutale W, Chi BH. Incident HIV among pregnant and breast-feeding women in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. AIDS. 2020 Apr 1;34(5):761-776. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002487. PMID: 32167990; PMCID: PMC7275092. [Full Text]

    11. Zimba C, Maman S, Rosenberg NE, Mutale W, Mweemba O, Dunda W, Phanga T, Chibwe KF, Matenga T, Freeborn K, Schrubbe L, Vwalika B, Chi BH. The landscape for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during pregnancy and breastfeeding in Malawi and Zambia: A qualitative study. PLoS One. 2019 Oct 4;14(10):e0223487. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223487. PMID: 31584987; PMCID: PMC6777778. [Full Text]

    12. Hershow RB, Zimba CC, Mweemba O, Chibwe KF, Phanga T, Dunda W, Matenga T, Mutale W, Chi BH, Rosenberg NE, Maman S. Perspectives on HIV partner notification, partner HIV self-testing and partner home-based HIV testing by pregnant and postpartum women in antenatal settings: a qualitative analysis in Malawi and Zambia. J Int AIDS Soc. 2019 Jul;22 Suppl 3(Suppl Suppl 3):e25293. doi: 10.1002/jia2.25293. PMID: 31321884; PMCID: PMC6639664. [Full Text]

    13. Chi BH, Rosenberg NE, Mweemba O, Powers KA, Zimba C, Maman S, Kasaro M, Mollan KR, Stringer JS, Mutale W. Involving both parents in HIV prevention during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Bull World Health Organ. 2018 Jan 1;96(1):69-71. doi: 10.2471/BLT.17.200139. Epub 2017 Nov 27. Erratum in: Bull World Health Organ. 2018 Mar 1;96(3):220. doi: 10.2471/BLT.18.100318. Erratum in: Bull World Health Organ. 2018 Apr 1;96(4):296. doi: 10.2471/BLT.18.100418. PMID: 29403103; PMCID: PMC5791874. [Full Text]