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Bridges-Round 2: A study protocol to examine the longitudinal HIV risk prevention and care continuum outcomes among orphaned youth transitioning to young adulthood

Author

Listed:
  • Proscovia Nabunya
  • Ozge Sensoy Bahar
  • Torsten B Neilands
  • Noeline Nakasujja
  • Phionah Namatovu
  • Flavia Namuwonge
  • Abel Mwebembezi
  • Fred M Ssewamala

Abstract

Background: Youth orphaned by HIV in sub–Saharan Africa experience immense hardships including social disadvantage, adverse childhood events and limited economic prospects. These adversities disrupt the normative developmental milestones and can gravely compromise their health and emotional wellbeing. The Bridges to the Future study (2012–2018) prospectively followed 1,383 adolescents, between 10–16 years, to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a family-based economic empowerment intervention comprising of child development accounts, financial literacy training, family income generating activities and peer mentorship. Study findings show efficacy of this contextually-driven intervention significantly improving mental health, school retention and performance and sexual health. However, critical questions, such as those related to the longitudinal impact of economic empowerment on HIV prevention and engagement in care remain. This paper presents a protocol for the follow-up phase titled, Bridges Round 2. Methods: The Original Bridges study participants will be tracked for an additional four years (2022–2026) to examine the longitudinal developmental and behavioral health outcomes and potential mechanisms of the effect of protective health behaviors of the Bridges cohort. The study will include a new qualitative component to examine participants’ experiences with the intervention, the use of biomedical data to provide the most precise results of the highly relevant, but currently unknown sexual health outcomes among study participants, as well as a cost-benefit analysis to inform policy and scale-up. Discussion: Study findings may contribute to the scientific knowledge for low-resource communities on the potential value of providing modest economic resources to vulnerable boys and girls during childhood and early adolescence and how these resources may offer long-term protection against known HIV risks, poor mental health functioning and improve treatment among the HIV treatment care continuum.

Suggested Citation

  • Proscovia Nabunya & Ozge Sensoy Bahar & Torsten B Neilands & Noeline Nakasujja & Phionah Namatovu & Flavia Namuwonge & Abel Mwebembezi & Fred M Ssewamala, 2023. "Bridges-Round 2: A study protocol to examine the longitudinal HIV risk prevention and care continuum outcomes among orphaned youth transitioning to young adulthood," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(5), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0284572
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284572
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Atwine, Benjamin & Cantor-Graae, Elizabeth & Bajunirwe, Francis, 2005. "Psychological distress among AIDS orphans in rural Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(3), pages 555-564, August.
    2. Julia Shu-Huah Wang & Bilal Malaeb & Fred M. Ssewamala & Torsten B. Neilands & Jeannie Brooks-Gunn, 2021. "A Multifaceted Intervention with Savings Incentives to Reduce Multidimensional Child Poverty: Evidence from the Bridges Study (2012–2018) in Rural Uganda," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 947-990, December.
    3. Julia Shu†Huah Wang & Fred M. Ssewamala & Torsten B. Neilands & Laura Gauer Bermudez & Irwin Garfinkel & Jane Waldfogel & Jeannie Brooks†Gunn & Jing You, 2018. "Effects of Financial Incentives on Saving Outcomes and Material Well†Being: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial in Uganda," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(3), pages 602-629, June.
    4. repec:plo:pone00:0008169 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Kaggwa, Esther B. & Hindin, Michelle J., 2010. "The psychological effect of orphanhood in a matured HIV epidemic: An analysis of young people in Mukono, Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(7), pages 1002-1010, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Josephine Nabayinda & Proscovia Nabunya & Ozge Sensoy Bahar & Samuel Kizito & Lindsay Stark & Phionah Namatovu & Susan S. Witte & Torsten B. Neilands & Mary M. McKay & Fred M. Ssewamala, 2025. "She Is a Guest in My House: Exploring the Barriers to Asset Development and Decision‐Making Autonomy Among Young Women in Southern Uganda," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(7), pages 1543-1554, October.
    2. Nabayinda, Josephine & Ssewamala, Fred M. & Kizito, Samuel & Nabunya, Proscovia & Namatovu, Phionah & Neilands, Torsten B. & Mckay, Mary M., 2026. "The direct and indirect pathways through which gender norms influences decision-making autonomy among young women and men in Southern Uganda. A mediation analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).

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