Integration of Hypertension Management Into HIV Care in Nigeria: A Task Strengthening Strategy

Although access to antiretroviral therapy has led to increased survival among people living with HIV (PWH) in Africa, this population now has higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) - mortality than the general population largely due to an increased burden of hypertension. In Nigeria, the acute shortage of physicians limits the capacity to control hypertension among PWH at the primary care level where the majority receive treatment. This study proposes the use of practice facilitation (PF) - which will provide external expertise on practice redesign and a tailored approach to delivery of the evidence-based task strengthening strategy - to integrate hypertension into the HIV care model. Using a clinical-effectiveness implementation design, we will evaluate the effect of a PF strategy for integrating an evidence-based intervention for hypertension (HTN) control into HIV care among 960 patients with uncontrolled HTN in 30 primary health centers (PHCs) in Nigeria. Study is in 3 phases: 1) a pre-implementation phase that will develop a tailored PF intervention for integrating TASSH into HIV clinics; 2) an implementation phase that will compare the clinical effectiveness of PF vs. a self-directed condition (receipt of information on TASSH without PF) on BP reduction; and 3) a post- implementation phase to evaluate the effect of PF vs. self-directed condition on the adoption and sustainability of TASSH. The PF intervention comprises: (a) an advisory board to provide leadership support for implementing TASSH in HIV clinics; (b) training of the HIV nurses on TASSH protocol; and (c) training of practice facilitators, who will serve as coaches, provide support, and performance feedback to the HIV nurses