Lessons from the Positive Women and Emotional Well-Being Program
Dinys Luciano, Mariana Iacono and María Lourdes Herreira
The Positive Women and Emotional Well-being (PWEW) program, a multi-component digital psychosocial intervention, was launched in November 2023 to address the pressing mental health needs of women living with HIV (WLHIV). This program, designed for and with WLHIV across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), aims to overcome the region’s persistent barriers to psychosocial support, particularly those linked to stigma, geographical constraints, and the lack of accessible, gender-responsive, and intersectional services.
WHY MULTIMODAL PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT FOR WLHIV MATTERS
Multimodal psychosocial interventions—programs combining psychoeducation, counseling, peer support, and behavioral or community-based components—have been shown to reduce psychological distress, enhance treatment adherence, improve social functioning, and foster empowerment among WLHIV. The interventions are especially effective when tailored to address stigma, trauma, and gender-based violence (GBV).[1],[2],[3]
WLHIV are disproportionately affected by depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and post-traumatic stress conditions that not only compromise their quality of life but also hinder HIV treatment adherence and exacerbate non-communicable diseases. Structural challenges such as poverty, GBV, and the erosion of sexual and reproductive rights further deepen these mental health burdens.[4],[5],[6],[7]
WLHIV are subjected to various forms of violence—physical, sexual, psychological, and institutional—throughout their lives. This includes intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, and systemic discrimination within healthcare settings and the community.[8] The pervasive violence experienced by WLHIV in their lives significantly impacts their mental health, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated, trauma-informed mental health services tailored to their unique experiences.
The PWEW program underscores the cumulative psychosocial toll on WLHIV and the urgent need for integrated mental health responses.[9],[10]
A GROUNDBREAKING DIGITAL AND HYBRID APPROACH TO PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
The PWEW program provides flexible, confidential, evidence-based psychosocial support through various digital platforms, including videoconferencing and messaging. It combines four interventions that WLHIV can use or participate in according to their needs and preferences.
The needs assessment for psychosocial support utilizes an adapted version of the WHO Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-11), and referrals for in-person care are made as needed, ensuring that participants receive comprehensive support. The program leverages IT infrastructure for videoconferencing, messaging, data management, monitoring, and evaluation while adhering to digital privacy and confidentiality protocols.
REGIONAL REACH AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Between November 2023 and December 2024, the PWEW program enrolled 121 participants from 15 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Venezuela. Funded by Integrativa Online DVCN and supported by UNAIDS to ICW Argentina, the initiative has yielded strong positive feedback:
86% of participants found support groups “very useful.”
100% would recommend them to other WLHIV.
88% reported that virtual sessions were as effective as in-person services.
75% experienced an improvement in their mental health after participating.
These figures reflect high levels of acceptability and usability, critical indicators for scaling digital mental health services in the region.
CAPACITY BUILDING AND PEER LEADERSHIP
PWEW emphasizes empowerment through comprehensive training and inter-learning among psychologists, peers, and managers:
- A regional training was conducted in April 2024 for 18 peer psychosocial support navigators.
- Seven co-facilitators from Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras were trained to lead support groups, utilizing a combination of a self-paced course and synchronous discussions.
- Eleven psychoeducational resources were developed, and a self-paced virtual course for facilitators was launched.
This approach enhances service delivery and builds a sustainable community-based psychosocial care model.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As LAC grapples with rising mental health needs and persistent HIV-related challenges, the PWEW program offers a timely, scalable, and rights-based solution. It affirms that digital innovation, when grounded in empathy and intersectional approaches, can bridge critical gaps in mental health systems and improve lives, one connection at a time. Addressing the mental health needs of WLHIV in LAC is not only a matter of public health but also a critical component of upholding human rights and equity. By implementing comprehensive, trauma-informed digital and hybrid psychosocial services, we can support WLHIV in leading healthier, more empowered lives.
How to cite this article
Luciano, D., Iacono M., Ferreira L. (2025, May). Digital multimodal psychosocial support for women living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean: Lessons from the PWEW program. Integrativa Online DVCN.
For more information, contact:
Mariana Iacono, ICW Argentina (independencia008@gmail.com)
Dinys Luciano, Integrativa Online / Development Connections (lucianod@integrativa-online.com). https://integrativa-online.com
María Lourdes Herreira, OPUMI, Paraguay (lourdesherreira@gmail.com)
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