Psychosocial interventions for antiretroviral therapy adherence in people living with HIV in West Africa: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compromises the immune system and remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) is accessible to many individuals, inadequate adherence continues to compromise viral suppression, especially in resource-limited regions. This scoping review and bibliometric analysis sought to identify psychosocial interventions targeting ART adherence among HIV patients in West Africa. The study adopted Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework. A systematic literature search was carried out across five databases: Scopus, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, and Cochrane. The search was limited to English-language studies conducted among West African populations, with reviews and meta-analyses excluded. Out of the 243 records screened, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were conducted in Nigeria (n = 9), with the remaining studies from Ghana (n = 2). Interventions included peer support (n = 4), short message service (SMS) reminders (n = 4), mHealth tools (n = 3), counseling (n = 2), and motivational interviewing (n = 1). ART adherence outcomes were largely self-reported and only occasionally demonstrated statistically significant improvements. Psychosocial interventions are feasible and beneficial; future research should use objective measures, larger multisite samples, and longer follow-up.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. AIDS Care, 2026 · DOI ↗