Indlela Behavioural Insights

We are thrilled to announce the release of our September 2024 newsletter! In this edition, we provide updates from AIDS 2024 and highlight the workshops we hosted in this quarter. We also feature new publications from our Behavioural Insights Tests (BITs), conducted in collaboration with FPD, Right to Care, and Anova Health Institute. Plus, we introduce the Indlela Fellows who recently joined the team Onthatile Maboa Busisiwe Sibiya. Read the newsletter here: https://shorturl.at/GHUnL

We are pleased to announce the release of our latest Behavioural Insights Report in collaboration with Palindrome Data, Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office and Right to Care. This report shares insights from the PREDICT study which used a machine learning-based model to identify individuals at risk of disengaging from HIV care. We applied behavioural principles to design tools that could translate these predictions into actionable strategies for healthcare providers and care recipients to improve engagement and clinic attendance. Providers found these tools effective in identifying at-risk care recipients and improving communication, some potential challenges included increased workload and incomplete patient information. For more insights read the full report here: https://shorturl.at/Jz4Yv

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Candice M Chetty-Makkan as the chairperson for the 12th SA AIDS Conference. We are confident that under her leadership the conference will continue to be a success!

New publication alert! We are pleased to share our latest publication in collaboration with FPD entitled: "Applying behavioural economics principles to increase demand for free HIV testing services at private doctor-led clinics in Johannesburg, South Africa: A randomised controlled trial". In this study participants were randomised to two interventions arms (1. a brochure that bundled health screenings and an HIV test and 2. a voucher brochure that could be redeemed at a private doctor practice for an HIV test) and standard of care. Results showed that brochures that used behavioural insights did not increase demand for HTS at private doctor-led clinics (GP practices). However, consistent distribution of the brochures may have potential to increase HIV testing uptake at highly visible clinics. Read the full paper here: https://shorturl.at/Kpryz

We are pleased to release the "Fresh Start" animation video. This animation was created in collaboration with Anova Health Institute and focuses on applying behavioural insights to improve the return to care for people living with HIV in South Africa who missed appointments. The study compared the effectiveness of a "fresh start" framed text message, an unframed message, and the standard of care. Results showed that participants who received any text message (framed or unframed) were more likely to return to care compared to those who received no text message. The intervention was particularly effective for individuals who were earlier in their treatment interruption. Here is a link to the animation (https://rb.gy/dlcnrs) and the peer-reviewed journal publication (https://shorturl.at/j83Cx). Anova Health Institute, HE2RO Information, Candice M Chetty-Makkan,Preethi Mistri, Simamkele Bokolo,Sophie Pascoe, Lawrence Long, Brendan Maughan-Brown, Harsha Thirumurthy, Alison Buttenheim, Nomsa Mahlalela, MA . 1st

We are delighted to announce the release of our second “Insights Report”. This report shares insights from a randomised control study that we conducted in collaboration with John Snow SA (JSSA) in Johannesburg. The study sought to understand the use of an interactive voice response (IVR) system to improve the reach of eligible populations for HIV self-testing (HIVST), increase accurate reporting of results, and improve linkage to HIV services. Please read the insights report here: https://rb.gy/gavhkr

Congratulations Caroline Govathson on presenting the "Your Choice" poster at AIDS 2024. It was also great to see conference delegates engaged #Putpeoplefirst

Please join us tomorrow (Wed, 24 July) for a satellite session in collaboration with @Audere #Putpeoplefirst

Join us at the AIDS 2024 Conference! Indlela in collaboration with Audere, will host a satellite session. For more details, please see the poster below and visit our website: https://shorturl.at/EhGEK for additional presentations and our roadmap featuring Behavioural Economics (BE) related research that will be presented at the conference.

We are thrilled to announce the release of our latest publication in collaboration with Anova Health Institute entitled: A randomised trial of "Fresh Start" text messaging to improve return to care in people living with HIV who missed appointments in South Africa. In this study participants were randomised to a "fresh start" framed message, unframed message and standard of care. We found that a higher proportion of participants who were sent any text message (framed and unframed) returned to care compared to no text message. Individuals earlier in treatment interruption were more responsive to such follow-up interventions. Read the paper here: https://shorturl.at/j83Cx