Combining peer support and mobile health to reduce HIV in Nigerian youth
Intensive Combination Approach to Rollback the HIV Epidemic in Nigerian Youth (iCARE) Plus Effectiveness / Implementation Hybrid Study
A combined peer-support and mobile-health program to help Nigerian youth at risk of or living with HIV get diagnosed, linked to care, and stay on treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11400915 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered peer navigation and mobile-phone support tailored for young people, especially young men who have sex with men and transgender women, to help find HIV cases and connect them to treatment. The team partners with Nigerian government clinics to deliver prevention, testing, and adherence services and adapts the program to local needs. Researchers will track health outcomes like viral suppression while also measuring how well the program can be delivered and scaled in real clinics. The effort builds on a prior pilot and aims for sustainable, clinic-based services rather than short-term projects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Nigerian youth (about ages 15–24) who are at risk for HIV or already living with HIV, with special focus on young men who have sex with men and transgender women.
Not a fit: People outside Nigeria, older adults, or youth already stably engaged in HIV care are unlikely to be eligible or to gain direct benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could increase HIV diagnosis, improve linkage to treatment, and raise viral suppression among Nigerian youth, particularly MSM and transgender women.
How similar studies have performed: A prior pilot (UG3) showed feasibility and early efficacy for these peer-navigation and mHealth approaches, but large-scale effectiveness and implementation in Nigeria still need confirmation.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garofalo, Robert — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Garofalo, Robert
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 below.