Youth perspectives of working with near peer youth lay counsellors: The Safe Haven Pilot.

Youth living with HIV (YLWH) have higher rates of common mental disorders (CMDs) when compared with HIV-negative youth. We adapted the Friendship Bench to create a problem solving-based counselling intervention in Botswana delivered by near peer youth lay counsellors for YLWH called Safe Haven. In August 2020, and from June to August 2021, we conducted 22 semistructured interviews with youth aged 13-25 years with mild-to-moderate symptoms of CMDs.

The barriers and facilitators of HIV-exposed infant testing as perceived by HIV-positive mothers in Botswana: A qualitative study.

Background: Despite high rates of HIV testing and enrolment of HIV-positive pregnant women on antiretroviral therapy in Botswana, coverage for HIV-exposed infant (HEI) testing remains suboptimal. Many factors can contribute to suboptimal HEI testing rates, but they have seldom been thoroughly investigated in Botswana. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of HIV-positive mothers on the barriers and facilitators of HEI testing to inform interventions to promote HEI testing in Botswana.

Predictive Validity of a Computerized Battery for Identifying Neurocognitive Impairments Among Children Living with HIV in Botswana.

Children living with HIV (HIV+) experience increased risk of neurocognitive deficits, but standardized cognitive testing is limited in low-resource, high-prevalence settings. The Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (PennCNB) was adapted for use in Botswana. This study evaluated the criterion validity of a locally adapted version of the PennCNB among a cohort of HIV+ individuals aged 10-17 years in Botswana.

Building a Community Based Mental Health Program for Adolescents in Botswana: Stakeholder Feedback.

Background: When planning interventions for adolescents, adult interventions should not be used 'as is' in youth settings. Stakeholder engagement can help understand the overall adolescent mental health ecosystem and adapt existing evidence-based interventions for the youth.

Objective: To understand the overall mental health needs of adolescents in Botswana and the necessary adaptations required for an adolescent lay counselor based intervention in the country.

Medical stakeholder perspectives on implementing a computerized battery to identify neurocognitive impairments among youth in Botswana.

HIV infection and exposure, common in Sub-Saharan Africa, are associated with pediatric neurocognitive impairment. Cognitive screening can identify impairments, but it is rarely used in this setting. The Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (PennCNB), an evidence-based cognitive screening tool, was adapted for use in Botswana.

Development of a computerised neurocognitive battery for children and adolescents with HIV in Botswana: study design and protocol for the Ntemoga study.

Introduction: Neurodevelopmental delays and cognitive impairments are common in youth living with HIV. Unfortunately, in resource-limited settings, where HIV infection impacts millions of children, cognitive and neurodevelopmental disorders commonly go undetected because of a lack of appropriate assessment instruments and local expertise. Here, we present a protocol to culturally adapt and validate the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (PennCNB) and examine its validity for detecting both advanced and subtle neurodevelopmental problems among school-aged children affected by HIV in resource-limited settings.