Utilising the ADAPT-ITT Method to Adapt an Evidence-based Intervention Addressing HIV, Trauma and Mental Health Risks among Female Fish Traders in Zambia

HIV interventions that attend to mental health problems among vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa have become a priority. This is especially so among mobile populations, such as female fish traders in Zambia, who are at increased risk of trauma, subsequent adverse mental health risks including post-traumatic stress and HIV risk or transmission risk behaviours. To date, there have been no known integrated HIV and mental health interventions among mobile populations in Zambia. Furthermore, although the adaptation of evidence-based interventions to address intersecting risks in non-western contexts has been growing, there is a gap in rigorous adaptation research methods that rely upon the target population for collaborative contextual input. This article aims to describe the application of the ADAPT-ITT (Assessment, Decisions, Administration, Production, Topical experts, Integration, Training staff and Testing) method to adapt an evidence-based intervention (Living in the Face of Trauma) to address intersecting HIV, trauma and mental health risks among female fish traders in Zambia. More specifically, we describe the collaborative and iterative process used and highlight the unique role of social workers throughout this process. Results from the ADAPT-ITT method show promise for the adapted intervention, In Solidarity: Emotional-Coping, Problem-Solving and Entrepreneurship.