Preferences for enhanced treatment options to address HIV care engagement among women living with HIV and perinatal depression in Malawi.

Background: Option B + offers lifelong ART to pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, but postpartum loss to HIV care, partially driven by perinatal depression (PND), threatens the impact of this policy. This study aims to understand women's and providers' preferences for developing a feasible intervention to address PND and support engagement in HIV care among women living with PND and HIV.

Methods: We conducted a total of 6 focus group discussions (FGDs) involving 4 clinics in Lilongwe District from December 2018 through February 2019.

The feasibility and acceptability of a task-shifted intervention for perinatal depression among women living with HIV in Malawi: a qualitative analysis.

Background: Perinatal depression (PND) is prevalent and negatively impacts HIV care among women living with HIV (WLHIV), yet PND remains under-identified in Malawian WLHIV. Accordingly, this formative study explored perceptions of the feasibility and acceptability of an integrated, task-shifted approach to PND screening and treatment in maternity clinics.

Methods: We completed consecutive PND screenings of HIV+ women attending pre- or post-natal appointments at 5 clinics in Lilongwe district, Malawi.

"Pain in my heart": Understanding perinatal depression among women living with HIV in Malawi.

Background: Perinatal depression (PND) can interfere with HIV care engagement and outcomes. We examined experiences of PND among women living with HIV (WLWH) in Malawi.

Methods: We screened 73 WLWH presenting for perinatal care in Lilongwe, Malawi using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Beyond mobile phones: exploring using technology to support sustained engagement in care for HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy.

Disengagement from HIV care has emerged as a challenge to the success of universal test and treat strategies for HIV-infected women. Technology may enhance efforts to monitor and support engagement in HIV care, but implementation barriers and facilitators need to be evaluated. We conducted a mixed-method study among HIV-infected, pregnant women and healthcare workers (HCWs) in Malawi to evaluate barriers and facilitators to three technologies to support monitoring HIV care: (1) text messaging, (2) SIM card scanning and (3) biometric fingerprint scanning.

"A way of escaping": a qualitative study exploring reasons for clinic transferring and its impact on engagement in care among women in Option B.

Clinic transfers among women in Option B+ are frequent, often undocumented, and may lead to suboptimal engagement in care and HIV outcomes. The reasons women move between HIV clinics are not well understood. We conducted four focus group discussions (FGD) among HIV-infected pregnant women in Option B+ and four FGDs and five in-depth interviews among healthcare workers (HCWs) at two large ART clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Increasing insecticide resistance in Anopheles funestus and Anopheles arabiensis in Malawi, 2011-2015.

Background: Susceptibility of principal Anopheles malaria vectors to common insecticides was monitored over a 5-year period across Malawi to inform and guide the national malaria control programme.

Methods: Adult blood-fed Anopheles spp. and larvae were collected from multiple sites in sixteen districts across the country between 2011 and 2015.