Overview:~Participants will be the primary caregivers (age ≥18 years) of children with possible congenital Zika virus infection. Participants will be recruited from the pediatric services of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (UPR-MSC), as well as other clinics and community-based organizations in Puerto Rico. In the intervention, a community health worker (CHW) will deliver personalized sessions framed around a multi-media health communication tool. The CHW will deliver the intervention over a 6-month period.~Study procedures:~Participants will be the primary caregivers (age ≥18 years) of children with possible congenital Zika virus infection. Participants will be recruited via provider referral, peer referral, and flyers. Once an individual expresses interest in the study, a study staff member will screen that individual to assess eligibility. Individuals who are eligible will be invited to enroll through an informed consent process and complete a baseline interview. After completion of the baseline interview, study staff will randomize participants into an enhanced control condition (ECC) or intervention condition that receives an individually-tailored community health worker intervention. At trial exit, all participants, including the ECC group, will complete an in-depth assessment to measure their barriers to follow-up Zika-related pediatric services and provide feedback about their experience in the study.
Given the magnitude of the epidemic in Puerto Rico, congenital Zika virus infection may have devastating complications to a significant population of children, also affecting families and society at large. This proposal takes a critical first step to ensuring that children with exposure to congenital Zika virus infection receive the follow-up care they need for optimal clinical outcomes. We anticipate that lessons learned from this study may also positively impact models for adherence to early intervention services in Puerto Rico.