South Africa has the largest HIV burden in the world that is driven by a complex interaction of socioeconomic, psychosocial, and biological risk factors. People with HIV (PWH) have a higher prevalence of mental disorders compared to people without, and the relationship between mental disorders and HIV is bidirectional – mental disorders can be a precursor or a consequence of HIV. Untreated mental disorders are associated with poor health outcomes in HIV: They are linked to poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), poor viral suppression, and early mortality in people with HIV.

What do we think the solution to this challenge is?

By establishing a behavioural medicine research training programme, we hope to provide training in research at the intersection of mental disorders and HIV. The focus will be to build professional capacity in how to develop, assess, and apply behavioural interventions that promote mental and physical health, and prevent, manage, and treat HIV-associated mental and behavioural challenges faced by people in South Africa and beyond.

The D71 planning grant provides us with the means to consolidate our behavioural medicine programme within the Unit, the wider University, and with our international collaborators. We are excited by the prospect of this opportunity and ultimately aim to offer training to a new cohort of both clinician-scientists, as well as basic and social scientists with the intention to grow the programme within a framework of transformation.

If you are interested in joining our 2024 Behavioural Medicine class, email stephan.rabie@uct.ac.za