The experiences of clinical research staff during an HIV cure trial with an analytical treatment interruption in Durban, South Africa.

HIV cure trials involving analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) are expanding in resource-limited settings where HIV prevalence is highest, such as South Africa. Given the socio-economic challenges in these regions, ATI-inclusive trials may present unintended mental health risks to trial participants. To ensure participant safety, tailored mental health support should be part of the routine study implementation. While there is a trend toward more participant-centred study designs, less attention is focused on clinical research staff and their perceptions on managing participants...