Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Jan 30;14(1):e083390.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083390.

Couples motivational interviewing with mobile breathalysers to reduce alcohol use in South Africa: a pilot randomised controlled trial of Masibambisane

Lindani Msimango  1 , Rita Butterfield  2 , Tyrel J Starks  3 , Alastair van Heerden  1   4 , Torsten B Neilands  2 , Judy A Hahn  5 , Buyisile Chibi  1 , Hilton Humphries  1   6 , Amy A Conroy  7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Couples motivational interviewing with mobile breathalysers to reduce alcohol use in South Africa: a pilot randomised controlled trial of Masibambisane

Lindani Msimango et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Introduction: Heavy alcohol use among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa can hinder the success of HIV treatment programmes, impacting progress towards United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS goals. Primary partners can provide critical forms of social support to reduce heavy drinking and could be included in motivational interviewing (MI) interventions to address heavy drinking; however, few studies have evaluated MI interventions for couples living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a couple-based MI intervention with mobile breathalyser technology to reduce heavy alcohol use and improve HIV treatment outcomes among HIV-affected couples in South Africa.

Methods and analysis: We will employ a three-arm randomised controlled trial to assess the efficacy of couple-based MI (MI-only arm) and in conjunction with mobile breathalysers (MI-plus arm) to address alcohol use and HIV outcomes, as compared with enhanced usual care (control arm). We will enrol heterosexual couples aged 18-49 in a primary relationship for at least 6 months who have at least one partner reporting hazardous alcohol use and on antiretroviral therapy for 6 months. Participants in both MI arms will attend three manualised counselling sessions and those in the MI-plus arm will receive real-time feedback on blood alcohol concentration levels using a mobile breathalyser. Couples randomised in the control arm will receive enhanced usual care based on the South African ART Clinical Guidelines. Feasibility and acceptability indicators will be analysed descriptively, and exploratory hypotheses will be examined through regression models considering time points and treatment arms.

Ethics and dissemination: The study was approved by the University of California, San Francisco (HRPP; protocol number 21-35034) and Human Sciences Research Council Research Ethics Committee (REC: protocol number 1/27/20/21). We will disseminate the results at local community meetings, community-level health gatherings and conferences focused on HIV and alcohol use.

Trial registration number: NCT05756790.

Keywords: Behavior; HIV & AIDS; Medication Adherence; Social Support; Substance misuse.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

References

    1. Hahn JA, Woolf-King SE, Muyindike W. Adding fuel to the fire: alcohol’s effect on the HIV epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2011;8:172–80. 10.1007/s11904-011-0088-2 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hendershot CS, Stoner SA, Pantalone DW, et al. . Alcohol use and antiretroviral adherence: review and meta-analysis. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009;52:180–202. 10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181b18b6e - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wu ES, Metzger DS, Lynch KG, et al. . Association between alcohol use and HIV viral load. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2011;56:e129–30. 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31820dc1c8 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Shuper PA, Neuman M, Kanteres F, et al. . Causal considerations on alcohol and HIV/AIDS--a systematic review. Alcohol Alcohol 2010;45:159–66. 10.1093/alcalc/agp091 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Baliunas D, Rehm J, Irving H, et al. . Alcohol consumption and risk of incident human immunodeficiency virus infection: a meta-analysis. Int J Public Health 2010;55:159–66. 10.1007/s00038-009-0095-x - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

Substances

Associated data