Effectiveness of interventions to improve counselling skills of commune health workers in increasing utilization of HIV, drug services in 4 Vietnamese Northern provinces, 2018 - 2019

Abstract

A randomized control trial was conducted from 2018 to 2019 to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to improve the counselling skills of commune health workers (CHW) to increase antiretroviral treatment (ARV) and methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) services among people living with HIV who use drugs (PLHWUD). Sixty communes having the highest number of PLHWUD were selected and randomly assigned to intervention or control groups (purposive sample of 2 CHW who directly provide health services for PLHWUD at each commune). The effectiveness was assessed at baseline, 6 months and 12 months post-intervention and compared to the baseline. Data were analyzed by the generalized estimation equation (GEE) model. There was no statistically significant difference between pre and post-intervention in terms of HIV/drug use-related service utilization among PLHWUD. However, the confidence level of CHW has increased over time, the 12-month post-intervention score was 1.68, higher than the baseline score (95% CI, 0.85 - 2.51). The intervention group’s confidence level was higher than the control group’s level but non-statistically significant difference. The intervention has contributed to increasing the confidence level of health workers, but it would be better if the intervention outcomes be measured a long time after the study intervention to see more effectiveness.