Jessica F Magidson
Biographic Data
| ID | 221009 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jessica F Magidson |
| GIVEN NAMES | Jessica F |
| FAMILY NAME | Magidson |
| SIGNATURE | MAGIDSON J F |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Maryland, College Park |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3513-3255 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 44 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 27 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 44 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Perspectives on non-specialist training for mental health care delivery in South Africa
Task-sharing, or the distribution of tasks to non-specialists, is a key strategy for expanding access to mental health services, particularly in low- and lower-middle income countries. However, training practices are not standardized and non-specialist training outcomes in mental health care are variable. A better understanding of current practices and challenges in task-shared mental health care training is much needed to help improve training o…
Cost-effectiveness of a peer-delivered behavioral intervention for adherence to antiretroviral therapy and alcohol and drug use in South African HIV care
Cost-effective approaches for integrating behavioral interventions for problematic alcohol and other drug (AOD) use into HIV care is needed, as problematic AOD is a primary barrier to adherence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Thus, we investigated the cost-effectiveness of a recently completed pilot trial in South Africa, that showed promising findings in improved adherence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The trial compared a task-shared, peer-…
Testing a systematically braided alcohol reduction and HIV status neutral intervention among people receiving STI care in Malawi
Background Heavy alcohol use is common in Malawi among people receiving sexually transmitted infections (STI) care and is a critical barrier to the success of HIV prevention and treatment efforts. Methods This protocol presents a pilot hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial evaluating the short-term effectiveness and implementation of a scalable evidence-based intervention (EBI) to reduce alcohol use and provide HIV prevention and treat…
“Heal together”
Background Although medications exist to effectively treat opioid use disorder (OUD), treatment retention is a pressing challenge. Peer recovery specialists (PRSs) may play an important role in OUD treatment retention, yet few evidence-based interventions to support OUD retention have been developed specifically for PRS delivery. Behavioral activation is a brief, reinforcement-based intervention with empirical support for improving depression and…
“They call us amaphara (junkies)”
Stigma acts as a barrier to the diagnosis and effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Individuals with TB who also use alcohol or drugs (AODs), including methamphetamine, may experience intersectional stigma. Further, the nature and intensity of these intersecting stigmas may be compounded by co-morbidities like HIV and marginalized social status. Despite this, AOD use stigma has rarely been studied in the context of TB and other co-occurring c…
Maladaptive Coping Strategies Mediate the Relationship Between Depression and Anxiety and Moderate-to-Heavy Alcohol Use in Young South Africans with HIV
Stigma is our most powerful enemy”
Understanding rural patient experiences with multi-layered stigmas is crucial for developing innovative strategies to reduce stigma and support recovery
Piloting Siyakhana
South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV/tuberculosis (TB) co-infection, and poor engagement in HIV/TB care contributes to morbidity and mortality. In South Africa, community health workers (CHWs) are tasked with re-engaging patients who have dropped out of HIV/TB care. CHWs have described substantial challenges with substance use (SU) and depression among their patients, while patients have described CHW stigma towards SU and depression …
Development and empirical test of the research‐informed South African Relationship Functioning Assessment ( Sarfa )
Intimate partners play an important role in chronic diseases. Despite the chronic disease burden in sub‐Saharan Africa, very few culturally relevant quantitative measures of intimate relationship functioning are available. We conducted an empirical investigation evaluating the psychometric properties of the South African Relationship Functioning Assessment (SARFA) assessing healthy relationship functioning in N = 150 community members (50% women;…
Early in the morning, there’s tolerance and later in the day it disappears ” – The intersection of resource scarcity, stress and stigma in mental health and substance use care in South Africa
Stress is a challenge among non-specialist health workers worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings. Understanding and targeting stress is critical for supporting non-specialists and their patients, as stress negatively affects patient care. Further, stigma toward mental health and substance use conditions also impacts patient care. However, there is little information on the intersection of these factors. This sub-analysis aims to explore…
Reduction in substance use stigma following a peer-recovery specialist behavioral activation intervention
Increases in employment over six months following Khanya
Feasibility and acceptability of peer-delivered interventions using mHealth for PrEP services among adolescent girls and young women in DREAMS program in Botswana
BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls and young women accounted for 25% of all new HIV infections despite representing only 10% of the population in Sub Saharan Africa. PEPFAR has launched the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) initiative, a comprehensive HIV prevention program including PrEP services. Among adolescent girls and young women, PrEP adherence is currently sub-optimal. Tailored strategies for adolescent g…
A Pilot Study of Training Peer Recovery Specialists in Behavioral Activation in the United States
This study provides preliminary evidence that behavioral activation may be appropriate for dissemination to PRSs through brief trainings, particularly for PRSs with more work experience. However, additional research is needed to examine predictors of competence among PRSs
Applying a mutual capacity building model to inform peer provider programs in South Africa and the United States
You rise up and then you start pulling people up with you”
The combination of HIV and alcohol use internalized stigmas are associated with greater symptoms of depression in a South African sample living with HIV
Approximately one-third of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in South Africa (SA) present to HIV care with unhealthy alcohol use (UA); depression is highly prevalent among this population. Internalized HIV and UA stigma have been associated with greater depressive symptoms when examined in isolation. Yet, prior research has rarely examined how internalized HIV and UA stigmas together relate to depressive symptoms and related o…
Leveraging values to promote adherence to endocrine therapy among breast cancer survivors
Patient and provider perceptions of a peer-delivered intervention (‘ Khanya ’) to improve anti-retroviral adherence and substance use in South Africa
Findings underscore the importance of examining patients' perspectives on specific intervention components within intervention packages. While mindfulness training and peer delivery models were positively perceived by consumers, they are rarely used within task-shared behavioral interventions in low- and middle-income countries
The Relationship Between Harmful Alcohol Use and Antiretroviral Non-adherence in People Accessing HIV Treatment in Cape Town, South Africa
Intersecting Relationships of Psychosocial and Structural Syndemic Problems Among People with HIV in South Africa
Gender Moderates Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial for the Khanya Intervention for Substance Use and ART Adherence in HIV Care in South Africa
Little is known about gender effects of alcohol and drug use (AOD) among people living with HIV (PLWH) in resource-limited settings. Using multilevel models, we tested whether gender moderated the effect of Khanya, a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based intervention addressing antiretroviral (ART) adherence and AOD reduction. We enrolled 61 participants from HIV care and examined outcomes at 3- and 6-months compared to enhanced treatment as usual (…
Peer recovery specialist-delivered, behavioral activation intervention to improve retention in methadone treatment
Act Healthy
Improving the measurement of food insecurity among people with HIV in South Africa
Objective: Food insecurity is a structural barrier to HIV care in peri-urban areas in South Africa (SA), where approximately 80 % of households are moderately or severely food insecure. For people with HIV (PWH), food insecurity is associated with poor antiretroviral therapy adherence and survival rates. Yet, measurement of food insecurity among PWH remains a challenge. Design: The current study examines the factor structure of the nine-item Hous…
Theory-driven intervention for changing personality
Considerable evidence suggests that personality traits may be changeable, raising the possibility that personality traits most linked to health problems can be modified with intervention. A growing body of research suggests that problematic personality traits may be altered with behavioral intervention using a bottom-up approach. That is, by targeting core behaviors that underlie personality traits with the goal of engendering new, healthier patt…
Cultural adaptation of a cognitive-behavioural intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe
Few evidence-based interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy have been adapted for use in Africa. We selected, culturally adapted and tested the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioural intervention for adherence and for delivery in a clinic setting in Harare, Zimbabwe. The feasibility of the intervention was evaluated using a mixed-methods assessment, including ratings of provider fidelity of intervention delivery, and qualitati…
Psychosocial correlates of alcohol and other substance use among low-income adolescents in peri-urban Johannesburg, South Africa
Alcohol and other drug use is prevalent among peri-urban, South African adolescents. We identified correlates of alcohol and other drug use by gender among adolescents (age = 16-18 years; N = 822) in peri-urban Johannesburg. Interviewer-administered surveys assessed sexual activity, alcohol and other drug use, and relevant psychosocial factors. In separate logistic regression models of alcohol and other drug use stratified by gender, violence exp…
A pilot study of a nurse-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy intervention (Ziphamandla) for adherence and depression in HIV in South Africa
Depression is prevalent among people living with HIV in South Africa and interferes with adherence to antiretroviral therapy. This study evaluated a nurse-delivered, cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for adherence and depression among antiretroviral therapy users with depression in South Africa ( n = 14). Primary outcomes were depression, antiretroviral therapy adherence, feasibility, and acceptability. Findings support robust improvement…
Relationship between depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-infected, clinic-attending patients in South Africa
Despite the prevalence of depression and alcohol use among HIV-infected individuals, few studies have examined their association together in relation to nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and other psychosocial factors (stigma, demographic characteristics) in relation to nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy among clinic-attending, HIV-infected individuals in South …
Anxiety Specific Pathways to HIV Sexual Transmission Risk Behavior Among Young Gay and Bisexual Men
This study evaluated whether specific anxiety disorders increased the likelihood of sexual transmission risk behavior (TRB) in younger (ages 20-29) versus older (ages 30+) HIV positive gay and bisexual men. Participants completed screening measures for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Phobia, and Panic Disorder, and an assessment of recent TRB Moderated regression analyses indicated that PTSD was associated with greater risk of TRB in…
Depression and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Low-, Middle- and High-Income Countries
Depressive Symptoms, Lifestyle Structure, and ART Adherence Among HIV-Infected Individuals
Theory-driven intervention for changing personality
Considerable evidence suggests that personality traits may be changeable, raising the possibility that personality traits most linked to health problems can be modified with intervention. A growing body of research suggests that problematic personality traits may be altered with behavioral intervention using a bottom-up approach. That is, by targeting core behaviors that underlie personality traits with the goal of engendering new, healthier patt…
Engagement in HIV care and sexual transmission risk behavior among men who have sex with men using online social/sexual networking in Latin America
HIV/AIDS in Latin America is concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, accurate estimates of engagement in HIV care in this population can be difficult to ascertain because many do not self-identify as MSM. Given evidence of decreased HIV transmissibility in the context of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, identifying individuals not in care who are engaging in HIV transmission risk behavior is crucial for secondary preve…
Adaptation of community health worker-delivered behavioral activation for torture survivors in Kurdistan, Iraq
BATD was delivered by CHWs in a resource-poor, conflict-affected area in Kurdistan, Iraq, with some important modifications, including low-literacy adaptations, increased cultural relevancy of clinical materials, and tailored training and supervision for CHWs. Barriers to implementation, lessons learned, and recommendations for future efforts to adapt behavioral therapies for resource-limited, conflict-affected areas are discussed
Antiretroviral Medication Adherence and Amplified HIV Transmission Risk Among Sexually Active HIV-Infected Individuals in Three Diverse International Settings
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Task-Shifted Intervention to Enhance Adherence to HIV Medication and Improve Depression in People Living with HIV in Zimbabwe, a Low Income Country in Sub-Saharan Af…
Using a pilot trial design in an HIV care clinic in Zimbabwe, we randomised 32 adults with poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy and at least mild depression to either six sessions of Problem-Solving Therapy for adherence and depression (PST-AD) delivered by an adherence counsellor, or to Enhanced Usual Care (Control). Acceptability of PST-AD was high, as indicated by frequency of session attendance and through qualitative analyses of exit int…
Psychosocial correlates of alcohol and other substance use among low-income adolescents in peri-urban Johannesburg, South Africa
Alcohol and other drug use is prevalent among peri-urban, South African adolescents. We identified correlates of alcohol and other drug use by gender among adolescents (age = 16-18 years; N = 822) in peri-urban Johannesburg. Interviewer-administered surveys assessed sexual activity, alcohol and other drug use, and relevant psychosocial factors. In separate logistic regression models of alcohol and other drug use stratified by gender, violence exp…
Relationship between depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-infected, clinic-attending patients in South Africa
Despite the prevalence of depression and alcohol use among HIV-infected individuals, few studies have examined their association together in relation to nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and other psychosocial factors (stigma, demographic characteristics) in relation to nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy among clinic-attending, HIV-infected individuals in South …
Cultural adaptation of a cognitive-behavioural intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe
Few evidence-based interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy have been adapted for use in Africa. We selected, culturally adapted and tested the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioural intervention for adherence and for delivery in a clinic setting in Harare, Zimbabwe. The feasibility of the intervention was evaluated using a mixed-methods assessment, including ratings of provider fidelity of intervention delivery, and qualitati…
Biomarker-Measured Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Relation to CD4 Count Among Individuals Starting ART in Sub-Saharan Africa
Individuals are initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) at earlier HIV disease stages. Unhealthy alcohol use is a known barrier to successful HIV treatment outcomes, yet it is unclear whether the problem varies by disease stage. We measured alcohol use with an objective biomarker (phosphatidylethanol [PEth]), comparing individuals (n = 401) with early (CD4 > 350 cells/mL, WHO Stage 1) versus late (CD4 2 = 9.30; p < 0.01). Addressing unhealthy alc…
A pilot study of a nurse-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy intervention (Ziphamandla) for adherence and depression in HIV in South Africa
Depression is prevalent among people living with HIV in South Africa and interferes with adherence to antiretroviral therapy. This study evaluated a nurse-delivered, cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for adherence and depression among antiretroviral therapy users with depression in South Africa ( n = 14). Primary outcomes were depression, antiretroviral therapy adherence, feasibility, and acceptability. Findings support robust improvement…
Someone who is in this thing that I am suffering from”
Addressing Syndemics and Self-care in Individuals with Uncontrolled HIV
Detecting Depression in People Living with HIV in South Africa
Now We Are Told That We Can Mix”
Cooling of the mind
Act Healthy
Improving the measurement of food insecurity among people with HIV in South Africa
Objective: Food insecurity is a structural barrier to HIV care in peri-urban areas in South Africa (SA), where approximately 80 % of households are moderately or severely food insecure. For people with HIV (PWH), food insecurity is associated with poor antiretroviral therapy adherence and survival rates. Yet, measurement of food insecurity among PWH remains a challenge. Design: The current study examines the factor structure of the nine-item Hous…
Peer-delivered services for substance use in low- and middle-income countries
The combination of HIV and alcohol use internalized stigmas are associated with greater symptoms of depression in a South African sample living with HIV
Approximately one-third of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in South Africa (SA) present to HIV care with unhealthy alcohol use (UA); depression is highly prevalent among this population. Internalized HIV and UA stigma have been associated with greater depressive symptoms when examined in isolation. Yet, prior research has rarely examined how internalized HIV and UA stigmas together relate to depressive symptoms and related o…
Leveraging values to promote adherence to endocrine therapy among breast cancer survivors
Patient and provider perceptions of a peer-delivered intervention (‘ Khanya ’) to improve anti-retroviral adherence and substance use in South Africa
Findings underscore the importance of examining patients' perspectives on specific intervention components within intervention packages. While mindfulness training and peer delivery models were positively perceived by consumers, they are rarely used within task-shared behavioral interventions in low- and middle-income countries
The Relationship Between Harmful Alcohol Use and Antiretroviral Non-adherence in People Accessing HIV Treatment in Cape Town, South Africa
Medicine (37 works) · Psychiatry (29 works) · Psychology (26 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (24 works) · Clinical Psychology (21 works) · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV (21 works) · Clinical Psychology (19 works) · Family medicine (17 works) · Psychological intervention (17 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (14 works)