Coach Mpilo: HIV treatment uptake and adherence among men
Behavioural support for HIV testing and treatment adherence
Project Scope
A human-centered design health intervention under the Testing and Treatment for Men programme, focused on improving HIV testing, linkage to care, and treatment adherence among men. The project combined research, co-creation, prototyping, and community-based delivery across multiple provinces.
Outcome
Coach Mpilo was selected as the lead pilot and implemented in three provinces, reaching over 3,700 men through a network of approximately 120 trained peer coaches. The intervention demonstrated improved engagement and adherence outcomes and was incorporated into USAID’s 2021 Country Operating Plan.
Role
Research & Insights Associate | HCD Practitioner
The Challenge
Men remain significantly underrepresented in HIV testing and treatment programmes due to stigma, fragmented health services, low trust in institutions, and care models that are not designed around their lived realities. The challenge was to design an intervention that could reach men where they are, reduce drop-off across the care journey, and support sustained engagement in a way that felt practical, respectful, and culturally grounded.
The Approach
I supported research, synthesis, co-design workshops, prototype development, and field testing, while also contributing to training materials, implementation planning, and coordination with partners to enable scale and real-world delivery.
Human-Centred Research
Conducted qualitative research to understand men’s behaviours, fears, motivations, and barriers to accessing HIV-related health services.
Journey Mapping
Mapped the end-to-end male health journey to identify critical drop-off points and opportunities for timely intervention.
Behavioural Design
Applied behavioural insights to shape nudges, messaging, and touchpoints that encourage testing, linkage to care, and retention.
Coach-Led Model
Designed a trusted “coach” layer to provide personalised guidance, accountability, and emotional support throughout the care pathway.
System Integration
Aligned the intervention with existing health systems and community structures to ensure feasibility, scalability, and sustainability.
Designed a health intervention that fits into men’s daily lives, rather than expecting men to adapt to rigid clinical systems.
Created a consistent point of support that follows men across testing, treatment initiation, and long-term adherence.
Used peer-based coaching to reduce stigma, increase confidence, and normalise engagement with HIV services.
Shifted from transactional health touchpoints to ongoing relationships that encourage accountability and follow-through.
Structured the model so it could be expanded across provinces while preserving personal connection and local relevance.
The Evidence
Workshop Facilitator
I led and facilitated participatory workshops that brought together community members, implementers, clinicians, and researchers to surface lived experiences, challenge assumptions, and co-create grounded solutions. My role focused on creating safe, human-centred spaces for dialogue, translating complex evidence into accessible discussions, and guiding groups toward shared understanding and actionable insights that directly informed programme design and decision-making.
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Conceptual Framework
I facilitated the translation of complex clinical and behavioural research into a clear, human-centered conceptual framework that could be understood and used by practitioners, coaches, and stakeholders alike. My contribution focused on structuring the logic between programme components, behavioural mediators, and outcomes, ensuring the model reflected lived realities of men navigating HIV care, while making explicit how trust, peer support, and problem-solving drive sustained engagement and treatment adherence.
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Marketing Direction
I shaped the marketing direction by grounding it in behavioural insight and cultural relevance, moving away from fear-based HIV messaging toward an affirming, peer-led narrative that speaks directly to men. Through tone, visual language, and messaging, I helped position the coach as a trusted guide rather than an authority figure, reducing stigma and making engagement with testing and treatment feel accessible, normal, and empowering.
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The Impact
Men Reached
+3,700
Frontline Stakeholders Engaged
+50
Human-Centred Intervention Pathway
1
Multi-Disciplinary Groups Aligned
+4
Personal Reflection
Holding Space, Creating Change
Working on this project reminded me that meaningful impact begins with listening. Sitting in rooms with hundreds of men, hearing their fears, beliefs, and lived realities, reinforced how critical trust, dignity, and cultural sensitivity are in health interventions. Facilitating these conversations was not about imposing solutions; it was about creating safe spaces where honest dialogue could inform care models that truly meet people where they are and, in doing so, help shift behaviours, outcomes, and futures at scale.
