Pilot Test of a Couple-Based Medication Adherence Intervention for HIV-Positive Women and Their Male Partners in South Africa

The purpose of this study is to collect quantitative data related to developing and testing a couple-based intervention (CBI) for HIV-positive women's medication adherence in the region of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. The CBI, called START (Supporting Treatment for Anti-Retroviral Therapy) Together, will be a manualized intervention focused on women's ART adherence and enhancing the couple's communication and problem-solving behavior. The study focuses on implementation outcomes (feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity) and preliminary efficacy outcomes (women's ART adherence, men's engagement in HIV care, and the couple's relationship functioning), which will be compared to a control condition of referrals to usual HIV care.