Economic and relationship program to help couples reduce heavy drinking in Malawi
Official title: A randomized controlled trial of an economic and relationship-strengthening intervention to reduce alcohol use in Malawi
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11380573 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program helps couples affected by HIV in Malawi cut heavy drinking by combining money-management support with relationship and communication skills.
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 | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $554,815 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031445-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380573 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are couples in Malawi affected by HIV—especially where a male partner reports heavy alcohol use—who are willing to attend joint sessions on finances and relationships.
✕Less likely to help
People without problematic alcohol use, single individuals, or those living outside Malawi would be unlikely to benefit directly from this program.
What this research studies
You and your partner would learn practical ways to redirect money spent on alcohol into savings or small investments while also building communication and relationship skills. The Mlambe program brings couples together for sessions that mix economic coaching, peer support, and relationship-strengthening activities. Couples are randomly assigned to receive Mlambe or the usual services so researchers can compare drinking, couple conflict, and HIV treatment adherence over time. A small pilot showed the program was acceptable to couples and had promising early effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lower heavy drinking, protect family finances, improve couple relationships, and help people stay on HIV treatment.
How similar studies have gone: A prior pilot trial of Mlambe showed feasibility and promising impacts, though combining economic and couples approaches in sub-Saharan Africa is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conroy, Amy Anne — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Conroy, Amy Anne
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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.