# Adherence to HIV Treatment Postpartum: The Implications of Transitions Among Women Living with HIV in South Africa

> **NIH NIH K01** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $71,161

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) efforts have reduced the rates of vertical transmission to
2.7%, however, optimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence remains a difficult goal to reach, particularly
postpartum. The contribution of the proposed research is expected to be two-fold: 1) to gain an understanding
of how influential contextual, interpersonal, clinic, and individual level factors change during key moments of
transition during pregnancy and postpartum and influence ART adherence and 2) to develop bio-behavioral
interventions to assist mothers in maintaining their adherence to ART postpartum. Candidate: I am a social
psychologist with a background in ART adherence among socially disadvantaged groups in the United States.
This five-year K01 Career Development Award has been used to obtain training, mentorship, and research
experience to become an expert in maternal health among women living with HIV in resource limited settings
and an independent investigator capable of obtaining R01 funding. Research: The goals of the proposed
project are to (1) identify contextual, interpersonal, clinic, and individual level factors that influence women’s
HIV treatment adherence during key periods of transition during pregnancy and postpartum; (2) evaluate a
Transition Theory-based bio-behavioral intervention to improve ART adherence postpartum using a small scale
randomized controlled trial; (3) assess participants’ experiences of the intervention, perceived usefulness, and
identify ways to refine the intervention for future evaluation. Administrative Supplement: The purpose of this
administrative supplement is to provide additional support to offset the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on
the research originally proposed. Considerable progress has been made on the training and research
associated with this grant, however, due to COVID-19 related delays and restrictions, the completion of Aim 3
is currently in jeopardy of not being completed. The Aim 3 data are critical to my training and future likelihood
of success as an independent investigator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10582926
- **Project number:** 3K01MH112443-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Ann Pellowski
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $71,161
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10582926

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10582926, Adherence to HIV Treatment Postpartum: The Implications of Transitions Among Women Living with HIV in South Africa (3K01MH112443-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10582926. Licensed CC0.

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