Helping men with HIV in Lake Victoria fishing communities cut harmful drinking and stay on HIV treatment
Official title: Reducing hazardous alcohol use and optimizing treatment as prevention among men living with HIV in risk environments
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-11396831 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $363,001 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AA031650-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396831 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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 State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiene, Susan Maria — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Kiene, Susan Maria
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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.