A combined motivational interviewing and behavioral couples therapy to reduce IPV and alcohol use in South India
Official title: A combined motivational interviewing and behavioral couples therapy intervention to reduce intimate partner violence and alcohol use in South India
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11531393 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program that blends motivational interviewing with behavioral couples therapy to help reduce intimate partner violence and alcohol use among couples in South India.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $89,921 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AA029303-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11531393 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are heterosexual couples in South India where IPV and problematic alcohol use are present and both partners are willing to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without a partner or who are not experiencing IPV or problematic alcohol use may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
This grant supports testing a combined behavioral couples therapy and motivational interviewing approach with couples in South India to address both intimate partner violence and problematic alcohol use. The team aims to adapt evidence-based methods for a low-resource setting, focusing on scalable delivery and training local providers. By improving communication, coping skills, and adherence to healthier behaviors, the intervention aspires to reduce risk factors that harm women’s health and HIV-related outcomes. The study builds on prior pilot work and seeks to demonstrate feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact in a real-world context.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce IPV and risky alcohol use, improving women’s health and safety and potentially lowering HIV-related risks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests combined behavioral and motivational approaches can influence related behaviors, but broader, scalable results in low-resource settings are still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ekstrand, Maria L. — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ekstrand, Maria L.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.