Interventions to Improve HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence

This study will explore whether financial incentives, reminders, information about HIV/AIDS and its treatment and anti-stigma counseling help improve anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence among HIV infected individuals in a resource-limited environment. The interventions will be randomized in the study population in a cross-cutting design, with a control group, a financial incentive treatment group, a reminders treatment group, a treatment group that receives both the financial incentive and reminder interventions. In addition, there will be an information treatment group, a stigma-relieving treatment group and a group that receives both information and stigma-relieving interventions. The primary outcomes of interest for this study will be the adherence to ART, measured by attendance rates at clinic appointments and refill collection rates.

Financial Incentive: Participants will receive monthly financial incentives each time they refill the ART medication on time for six months

Reminders: Participants will receive monthly reminder phone calls before their ART medication refill is due for six months.

Information: show the participants a video about HIV progression, mechanism of ART, the benefit of adhering to ART.

Stigma-Reliving: Upon recruitment, inform the participants of the results of a recent population survey regarding people's attitudes towards HIV, if they overestimate the social stigma related to HIV. This intervention intends to reduce the stigma-concern faced by the patients.

Information and Stigma-relieving: Upon recruitment, show the participants a video about HIV progression, mechanism of ART, the benefit of adhering to ART. In addition, inform the participants of the results of a recent population survey regarding people's attitudes towards HIV, if they overestimate the social stigma related to HIV. This intervention intends to reduce the stigma-concern faced by the patients.

Fraction of participants for whom MPR is greater than or equal to 95%. MPR is proportion of days that a respondent is in possession of at least one ART dose. MPR is computed from pharmacy dispensing records. Measurement window truncated to last visit date for patients who transfer clinics, opt out of future study participation, or die.

Fraction of participants for whom MPR is greater than or equal to 95%. MPR is proportion of days that a respondent is in possession of at least one ART dose. MPR is computed from pharmacy dispensing records. Measurement window truncated to last visit date for patients who transfer clinics, opt out of future study participation, or die.

Fraction of participants for whom MPR is greater than or equal to 80%. MPR is proportion of days that a respondent is in possession of at least one ART dose. MPR is computed from pharmacy dispensing records. Measurement window truncated to last visit date for patients who transfer clinics, opt out of future study participation, or die.

Fraction of participants for whom MPR is greater than or equal to 80%. MPR is proportion of days that a respondent is in possession of at least one ART dose. MPR is computed from pharmacy dispensing records. Measurement window truncated to last visit date for patients who transfer clinics, opt out of future study participation, or die.

Average AAR among participants. AAR is proportion of scheduled visits completed during the observation period. "Completed visit" considered done if patient visits clinic on scheduled appointment date, or up to 7 days prior to that date. AAR is computed from clinic records. Measurement window truncated to last visit date for patients who transfer clinics, opt out of future study participation, or die.

Fraction of participants lost to follow up (LTFU). LTFU indicates patient missed last appointment and 90 or more days have elapsed since patient's last scheduled appointment date, with no clinic record of contact since that date. Patients who transfer clinics or opt out of future study participation are excluded from LTFU denominator, but those who die are retained in LTFU denominator.

This is a binary variable, which takes value 1 if the participant has a successful referral to test for HIV within 1 month of recruitment and 0 otherwise. A participant is considered having a successful referral if someone approaches our study team in the clinic, present us with the proof of an HIV testing together with the barcode-card we distributed to the participant upon recruitment.

Inclusion Criteria: Infected with HIV; Have not start ART, or started ART less than 90 days before; Have a phone number on which can discuss private health matters. Exclusion Criteria: Not infected with HIV; On ART for more than 90 days; Do not have a private phone.