Helping men with HIV in Lake Victoria fishing communities cut harmful drinking and stay on HIV treatment

Reducing hazardous alcohol use and optimizing treatment as prevention among men living with HIV in risk environments

NIH-funded research San Diego State University · NIH-11396831

This project offers a program using motivational counseling and money-management techniques to help men living with HIV in Lake Victoria fishing communities drink less and take their HIV medicines more reliably.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSan Diego State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Diego, United States)
Project IDNIH-11396831 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be invited to join Kisoboka, a program that combines motivational interviewing with behavioral economics approaches (including steps to reduce cash available for alcohol) and adherence support. About 716 men living with HIV in fishing communities around Lake Victoria will be randomly assigned to different combinations of the program to see which parts work best. The study will track alcohol use by questionnaire and a blood alcohol biomarker (PEth), as well as ART adherence and HIV viral load over follow-up. Results will be used to decide which intervention components should be scaled up in these communities.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are men living with HIV who work or live in Lake Victoria fishing communities and who report heavy or hazardous alcohol use or struggle with ART adherence.

Not a fit: This will not be relevant for women, people without HIV, men who do not drink hazardously, or those already stable on ART with sustained viral suppression.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help men with HIV drink less, improve ART adherence, and increase the chance of having undetectable viral load.

How similar studies have performed: A pilot randomized trial of Kisoboka showed preliminary reductions in self-reported drinking and the PEth alcohol biomarker and a protective effect on adherence through six months, but a larger factorial trial is needed.

Where this research is happening

San Diego, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.