Why do Integrated Maternal HIV and Infant Healthcare Services work? A Secondary Analysis of a Randomised Controlled Trial in South Africa

Abstract

In a randomised trial, we found that integrated maternal HIV and infant health services through the end of breastfeeding were significantly associated with the primary outcome of engagement in HIV care and viral suppression at 12 months postpartum, compared to the standard of care. Here, we quantitatively explore potential psychosocial modifiers and mediators of this association. Our findings suggest that the intervention was significantly more effective among women experiencing an unintended pregnancy but did not improve outcomes among women reporting risky alcohol use. Although not statistically significant, our results suggest that the intervention may also be more effective among women experiencing higher levels of poverty and HIV-related stigma. We observed no definitive mediator of the intervention effect, but women allocated to integrated services reported better relationships with their healthcare providers through 12 months postpartum. These findings point to high-risk groups that may benefit the most from integrated care, as well as groups for whom these benefits are hampered and that warrant further attention in intervention development and evaluation.