Publications by authors named "Charles Ingabire"

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW) are increasingly and disproportionately impacted by HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, yet current PrEP care models in this region are not optimized for these communities. Limited data exist describing experiences and preferences of MSM and FSW with respect to accessing and using PrEP.

Methods: We conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews with MSM and FSW recruited from three health centers and seven community organizations in Kigali, Rwanda.

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Background: Differentiated service delivery (DSD) programs for people living with HIV (PWH) limit eligibility to patients established on antiretroviral therapy (ART), yet uncertainty exists regarding the duration on ART necessary for newly-diagnosed PWH to be considered established. We aimed to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of entry into DSD at six months after ART initiation for newly-diagnosed PWH.

Methods: We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial in three health facilities in Rwanda.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the impact of parenting on youth health outcomes, particularly focusing on adolescents living with HIV transitioning from pediatric to adult care in Rwanda.
  • It evaluated the Children's Report of Parenting Behavior Inventory (CRPBI) for both youth and caregivers, finding a two-dimensional factor structure: acceptance/positive involvement and hostile detachment/rejection.
  • While the CRPBI was reliable and valid for youth responses, it was less effective for caregivers, indicating the need for careful adaptation of parenting assessment tools in different cultural contexts.
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HIV-related stigma in healthcare settings remains a key barrier to engaging people living with HIV (PLHIV) in care. This study investigated the association between clinical encounter frequency and HIV-related anticipated, enacted, and internalized stigma among newly-diagnosed PLHIV in Rwanda. From October 2020 to May 2022, we collected data from adult PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Kigali, Rwanda who were participating in a randomized, controlled trial testing early entry into differentiated care at 6 months after ART initiation.

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Background: 'Treat All' policies recommending immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) soon after HIV diagnosis for all people living with HIV (PLHIV) are now ubiquitous in sub-Saharan Africa. While early ART initiation and retention is effective at curtailing disease progression and transmission, evidence suggests that stigma may act as a barrier to engagement in care. This study sought to understand the relationships between HIV stigma and engagement in care for PLHIV in Rwanda in the context of Treat All.

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Background: Adolescents living with HIV have elevated mental distress and suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence.

Setting: Two urban clinics in Kigali, Rwanda.

Methods: A 2-arm individual randomized controlled trial compared Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy enhanced to address HIV (TI-CBTe) with usual care (time-matched, long-standing, unstructured support groups) with 356 12- to 21-year-old (M = 16.

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Introduction: HIV treatment guidelines recommend that all people living with HIV (PLWH) initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible after diagnosis (Treat All). As Treat All is more widely implemented, an increasing proportion of PLWH are likely to initiate ART when they are asymptomatic, and they may view the relative benefits and risks of ART differently than those initiating at more advanced disease stages. To date, patient perspectives of initiating care under Treat All in sub-Saharan Africa have not been well described.

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Introduction: Current HIV guidelines recommend differentiated service delivery (DSD) models that allow for fewer health centre visits for clinically stable people living with HIV (PLHIV). Newly diagnosed PLHIV may require more intensive care early in their treatment course, yet frequent appointments can be burdensome to patients and health systems. Determining the optimal parameters for defining clinical stability and transitioning to less frequent appointments could decrease patient burden and health system costs.

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Article Synopsis
  • A scoping review was conducted to identify the barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening and breast cancer diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on patient, provider, and systemic levels.
  • Key themes identified include patient knowledge, provider education, access to services, trust, and community values, while barriers are mainly lack of patient awareness and inadequate resources for providers.
  • To improve cancer care, the review suggests increased political and financial support, further research on health systems, and emphasizes the importance of addressing specific challenges within national contexts.
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Background: Sub-Saharan African adolescents living with HIV face challenges to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Poor mental health drives nonadherence but can be improved with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT delivered by peers may strengthen effects while building capacity for sustainment in low-income countries.

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Introduction: Few evidence-based interventions exist to support parenting and child mental health during the process of caregiver HIV status disclosure in sub-Saharan Africa. A secondary analysis of a randomized-controlled trial was conducted to examine the role of family-based intervention versus usual social work care (care as usual) in supporting HIV status disclosure within families in Rwanda.

Method: Approximately 40 households were randomized to family-based intervention and 40 households to care as usual.

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Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention to reduce mental health problems and bolster resilience among children living in households affected by caregiver HIV in Rwanda.

Design: Pre-post design, including 6-month follow-up.

Methods: The Family Strengthening Intervention (FSI) aims to reduce mental health problems among HIV-affected children through improved child-caregiver relationships, family communication and parenting skills, HIV psychoeducation and connections to resources.

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Introduction: Research in several international settings indicates that children and adolescents affected by HIV and other compounded adversities are at increased risk for a range of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. More intervention research is needed to develop valid measurement and intervention tools to address child mental health in such settings.

Objective: This article presents a collaborative mixed-methods approach to designing and evaluating a mental health intervention to assist families facing multiple adversities in Rwanda.

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