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NCT06659315

Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission (PMTCT) Among Women Experiencing Depression in Malawi

Recruiting now NA Last updated 30 March 2026
What this trial tests

NA trial testing Couples Problem Solving Therapy in HIV Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence in 180 participants. Currently enrolling.

Timeline
11 November 2025
Primary endpoint
31 March 2027
1 July 2027

Quick facts

Lead sponsorUniversity of California, San Francisco
PhaseNA
StatusRecruiting now
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingnone
Primary purposesupportive care
Enrollment180
Start date11 November 2025
Primary completion31 March 2027
Estimated completion1 July 2027
Sites1 location across Malawi

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with HIV Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence or Perinatal Mental Health. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV virtually eliminates transmission of HIV from mothers to their infants. Adherence to PMTCT (i.e., to antiretroviral therapy, infant prophylaxis, and exclusive breastfeeding) during pregnancy and the postpartum period is challenging, with evidence from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) showing suboptimal adherence and persistent viremia among perinatal women. Perinatal depression (PD) is a major driver of women's poor adherence to PMTCT. Interventions that involve male partners to provide social and food/economic support could be a promising approach for addressing PD and PMTCT, yet few interventions have intervened with couples to improve systems of support, communication, and other dyadic processes. The investigators propose to develop and test a couple-based approach to intervene on the mother's perinatal depressive symptoms and to strengthen the relationship and support system for partners to work together around depression to improve PMTCT adherence. The study will take place in antenatal and HIV care settings in Zomba, Malawi. The specific aims are: (1) to develop a couple-based intervention to target perinatal depression (PD) based on an evidence-based approach using problem-solving therapy (PST), augmented with content on couple communication and problem-solving skills; and (2) to assess the feasibility and acceptability (F\&A) of the intervention via a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). Our short-term goal is the produce a couple-focused PST intervention that can be added to the global health toolkit for treating depression in perinatal women. Our long-term goal is to produce a high-impact and sustainable intervention leveraging the couple relationship that can be scaled-up to address depression, PMTCT adherence, and family health.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Couples problem-solving therapy for perinatal women living with HIV and male partners in Malawi: a study protocol for a pilot trial of <i>Mphatso</i>.
    Conroy AA, Butterfield RM, Mkandawire J, Mulauzi N, et al · · 2026 · PMID 42152436 · DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-115210

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Other recruiting trials for HIV Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence

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Data sources for this page

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