This document outlines a research study that aims to determine the effect of integrating mental health services into antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs in Ethiopia. The study will use a cluster randomized controlled trial design to compare ART outcomes between clinics that provide integrated mental health services and standard ART care. The objectives are to assess how integration impacts ART outcomes like viral load, retention in care, and adherence, as well as to examine the prevalence of mental health disorders and feasibility of integration. The study involves collecting data on socioeconomics, biological markers, mental health status, and other indicators from ART clients at baseline and follow-ups. Analysis will compare the intervention and control groups on outcomes while accounting for clustering. The study aims to be
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Integration of MHC3
1. The effect of Integrated mental health
services on the outcome of Antiretroviral
treatment in Ethiopia: a cluster
randomized trial
Tezera M (MPH)
Wolaita Sodo University, College of Health
Sciences, School of Public Health
2. Outline
Main research questions
Rationale
Aim and Objectives
Research Method
Ethical approval
References
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3. Research questions
If the integrated mental health services have an effect
on the outcome of antiretroviral therapy?
Whether integrating the mental health service is
feasible and acceptable in Ethiopia?
What is the magnitude of mental health problem
amongst ART clients in Ethiopia?
What are the types of mental health problem amongst
ART clients in Ethiopia?
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4. Rationale of the study
HIV and mental health are highly related disorders
HIV infection precipitate the development a mental health problem
(Patel, V. et al 2007)
Mental health problems are 2 to 5 times more prevalent in HIV
infected people than general population (Deribew et al 2010)
Depression (36%-50%)
Alcohol UD (8-50%), substance use (10%)
HIV is associated neuro-cognitive disorder(20-30%)
Are the most common mental health problem in HIV infected people
(HATiP, 2009)
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5. Rationale
Also People with mental Illness are at higher risk of
being infected with HIV
Mental illness, such as depression is associated with
increased immune suppression which leads to a faster
disease progression (Cook JL, et al 2004)
The most important HIV-Mental health interplay is its
effect on clinical management of HIV/AIDS
It complicates the ART outcome by impairing adherence
and increasing attrition from the care (Sin NL, et al
2014)
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6. Rationale
Mental illness is predicted to be the leading causes of
disability by 2030 (WHO 2011)
Mental illness is a single biggest contributor to
the global burden of disease 14% (WHO 2001)
According to Vigo, et al. 2016 , 32.4% of YLD
13.% of DALYs was accounted to Mental illness
HIV/AIDS increasing YLDs and the fourth leading cause
of death in sub-Saharan Africa (GBD 2013)
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7. Rationale
In Ethiopia the burden of MI and HIV are high
The prevalence of MI was estimated to be (9.1 - 20%) in island and
general population (Fekadu, A, et al. 2008 and Solomon, et al 2012)
Most of the victims are not getting clinical help
(http://www.mhsethio.org/ )
In 2016, the number of people who need ART were 770,621
The ART service was accessible for a majority in need of the
treatment (MOH, 2015)
However, attrition, poor adherence, drug resistant strain and viral
failure are among the major challenges of ART (EPHI, 2015, MOH,
2015)
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8. Rationale
The primary factors associated with adverse treatment
outcomes appears to be, depression, anxiety, mental
distress, and alcohol abuse (Azar MM, et al 2010. Hodgson I
et al 2014, Assefa Y, et al 2016)
This is an indication to consider mental health service as
integral part of HIV care
WHO, Alma-Ata declaration and SDG; addressed that mental
health issues as an essential component of holistic care
Unfortunately mental health care still been neglected
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9. Rationale
The Ethiopian, National Mental Health Strategy
(2013/142015/16 frame worked a plan for expanding
mental health services in PHCU
This plan has identified HIV infected People are as one
of the vulnerable groups
Accordingly, the pilot integrated mental health service
was initiated in Tigray and Amhara region in 2014
However, the effectiveness and level of the integration
is not well known
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10. Aim and Objectives
Aim: To determine the effect of mental health service
integration on the outcome of ART in Ethiopia
The outcome variables
(1) Biological markers: (Viral load response, Progress in CD4
cell and clinical stage)
(2) Retention on care: (LTF, discontinuation, early mortality)
(3) Behavioral ends: adherence with recommended regimen
(4) Mental health status:
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11. Objectives:
Objective 1: To assess the effect of mental health
service integration on the outcomes of ART
Objective 2: To determine the burden of mental health
disorder amongst ART client
Objective 3: To examine the feasibility and acceptability
of mental health service integration in to ART clinic
Objective 4: To explore strategies to provide necessary
mental health service within the ART program
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12. Research Method
Design: A pragmatic Cluster based randomized controlled
trials (RCT), with two arms
This design will be used to compare the outcome of ART
between the integrated mental health care and the
standard ART follow up care
Randomization: ART clinics will be randomly assigned to
the intervention and the control arm
Blinding: The patient and care provider will be blinded
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13. Method
Study Setting:
The study will be conducted in randomly selected health
facilities providing ART service in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in Africa
The prevalence of HIV is estimated to be 1.5% in the
genera population (EDHS 2011)
In 2015, ART service was available in 1045 Health
facilities
The ART coverage was 76% (MoH 2015)
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14. Method
Description of Interventions: The existing ART practices will be
used as standard treatment (control arm)
Standard ART care plus integrated mental health service
(Intervention arm)
ART service provider in the intervention arm will be trained to
support the mental health needs of the ART client
Study subjects: Aged 18 years or older
Eligibility Criteria: Both male and female, initiated ART at the
beginning of the study
Who are not planned to move out during the follow-up period
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15. Method
Sample size:
Is calculated based on an estimated proportion of loss
to follow up after one year of care 26% (Berheto, et al
2014)
Assuming a 20% reduction of loss to follow per year
80 % power, 留-level of 0.05, 10% drop-out rate, and
considering 1.25 inter cluster correlation factor the
sample size per each arm is determined to be 479
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16. Method
Data collection: Socio-demographics information will be collected at
the base line using structured interviewer administered questionnaire
Adherence to treatment will be collected at the 3, 6 and 9 months of
follow-up
Biological markers (CD4 count and viral load) will be measured in
standard laboratory procedures at the baseline and end of the study
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ): will be used to measure
mental health status, at baseline and follow up basis
Other health indictors anthropometric, patient satisfaction and
functional status will be assessed in follow-up basis
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17. Method
Data Analysis:
An intention-to-treat approach will be used
2 square test will be used to compare intervention and control
on categorical outcomes
Independent samples T-test will be used to compare intervention
and control conditions on continuous normally distributed data
Analysis of covariance will be used to compare intervention and
control on continuous measures, with a covariate
Interval estimates of effect size will be calculated
STATA 12 will be used to analyze the data
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18. Method
Time table: The study will be completed in 38 months
Ethical approval:
Will be obtained from the AAU
From each cluster and individual participants
The Ministries of Health
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19. References
Azar MM, Springer SA, Meyer JP, Altice FL: A systematic review of the
impact of alcohol use disorders on HIV treatment outcomes,
adherence to antiretroviral therapy and health care utilization. Drug
and alcohol dependence 2010, 112(3):178-193.
Hodgson I, Plummer ML, Konopka SN, Colvin CJ, Jonas E, Albertini J,
Amzel A, Fogg KP: A Systematic Review of Individual and Contextual
Factors Affecting ART Initiation, Adherence, and Retention for HIV-
Infected Pregnant and Postpartum Women. PloS one 2014,
9(11):e111421.
Prince M, Patel V, Saxena S, Maj M, Maselko J, Phillips MR, Rahman A:
No health without mental health. The Lancet 2007, 370(9590):859-
877.
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