A CIDRZ study presented at the 33rd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) in Denver, Colorado, USA, shows that strong, trust-based relationships between health providers and clients can improve HIV treatment outcomes in Zambia.

Presenting the findings, P-CoRE study Principal Investigator, Dr Kombatende Sikombe, explained that when health providers build supportive relationships with clients, it strengthens treatment adherence and leads to better health outcomes.

The study was conducted across 24 clinics using a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial design and focused on individuals experiencing treatment failure, defined as a viral load above 1,000 copies/mL. Researchers followed 7,641 clients using routine electronic health records to assess whether improvements in provider behaviour and the quality of provider-client interactions could influence treatment outcomes.

The intervention, grounded in person-centred care principles, emphasised counselling quality, rapport-building, trust, and active engagement with clients during routine service delivery. The results were striking, with treatment interruptions dropping from 65% in control sites to 48% in intervention sites, while viral re-suppression increased from 53% to 65% in sites implementing the person-centred care intervention.

These findings highlight that interpersonal dynamics in HIV care are not just supportive elements, they are central to an effective response to treatment failure. Strengthening relationships between providers and clients can improve adherence and outcomes even among individuals facing complex treatment challenges.

Dr Sikombe noted that person-centred approaches complement biomedical and structural interventions, offering a scalable strategy to improve HIV outcomes across Zambia. The study reinforces CIDRZ’s commitment to innovative, evidence-based strategies that put people at the heart of HIV care.