Impact of an analytical treatment interruption on partners and family members of trial participants in Durban, South Africa: a qualitative study
ATI-inclusive HIV cure trials affect participants and their close social networks comprised of family members and intimate partners. Ethical trials are responsible for ensuring the safety of participants and other impacted groups. Family and partners were a critical source of support for trial participants, but have been underutilized in ATI-inclusive trials. Leveraging this existing support network in future ATI trials may improve safety while facilitating recruitment, willingness to discontinue ART during ATIs, prevent early ATI discontinuation, support adherence to frequent visits and sampling requirements, improving overall trial success.
Authors
- Vanessa Pillay
- Annie Miall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7493-914X)
- Karine Dubé (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3458-1539)
- Maud Mthembu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1606-2041)
- Thumbi Ndung’u (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2962-3992)
- Ayanda Zulu
- Deborah Mindry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0761-5895)
- Makhosonke Ngcobo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2652-0920)
- Krista L. Dong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2038-3518)
- Ali Ahmed (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8964-1853)
- Luyanda Maphalala
- Whitney Tran
- Rachel Lau
- Ntombifuthi Langa
Institutions
- University of Zululand (ZA)
- Harvard University (US)
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (ZA)
- Edendale Hospital (ZA)
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard (US)
- University of California San Diego (US)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Africa Health Research Institute (ZA)
- Project Empower (ZA)
- University College London (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Public Health
- Published
- 2025-12-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1662141
- Primary Topic
- Ethics in Clinical Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Gilead Sciences
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases