Adaptation and Evaluation of an Intersectional Stigma Reduction Intervention to Increase HIV Care Engagement Among Women Who Use Drugs
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Light Inside, standard of care.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: HIV. Basic parameters: from 18 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Overview
The goal of this study is to test whether a program reduce stigma will help women living HIV remain in HIV care.
Detailed description
This study will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a behavioral intervention designed to reduce intersectional HIV- and drug use-related stigma and improve HIV care engagement among women living with HIV who use drugs in Ukraine. A total of 100 eligible women will be randomized to either the intervention or a control condition. Participants in both groups will receive standard HIV care and a one-time consultation with a social worker, complete baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessments, and have HIV care outcomes assessed. Participants assigned to the intervention will additionally attend five small-group sessions focused on stigma coping, cognitive-behavioral skills, communication, social support, and HIV care engagement, with an optional individual session involving a support person. The study will examine effects on HIV care engagement, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and stigma-related psychosocial outcomes to inform a future fully powered randomized controlled trial.
Interventions
- Behavioral Light Inside
Adapted intersectional stigma reduction intervention consisting of five facilitator-led, small-group sessions delivered over approximately 2-3 weeks. The intervention uses cognitive-behavioral strategies to reduce HIV- and drug use-related stigma by strengthening adaptive coping, cognitive restructuring, communication skills, social support, and HIV care self-efficacy to improve HIV care engagement and antiretroviral therapy adherence. Participants may also complete an optional individual sessio - Behavioral standard of care
Standard of Care: Participants will continue to receive standard HIV and substance use care available through their usual healthcare providers. In addition, they will receive a one-time consultation with a social worker, delivered either in person or remotely, to provide support and linkage to available services.
Primary outcome measures
- HIV care engagement as assessed by the Number of participants who re-engage in HIV care [Time frame: 6 months]
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence as assessed by the percentage of days covered by dispensed antiretroviral medication [Time frame: 6 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Female; Age 18 years or older;
- Registered in the national Medical Information System (MIS) as having received an HIV-positive diagnosis;
- Registered in the MIS with injection drug use (IDU) as the probable mode of HIV transmission or with a documented history of injection drug use at any clinical visit.
Exclusion criteria
- Does not meet the inclusion criteria;
- Unable to provide informed consent;
- Unable to provide informed consent due to intoxication, the effects of drug use, or severe psychiatric impairment at the time of consent.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07751978 · IRB00029819 · 5R01TW012908