Improving HIV prevention and reducing alcohol use for people in Malawi receiving STI care

Enhancing HIV prevention and reducing alcohol use among people receiving STI care in Malawi: An HIV status neutral approach

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11112531

This work aims to adapt and test a program that helps people reduce alcohol use, which can also improve HIV prevention and treatment for those receiving care for sexually transmitted infections in Malawi.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11112531 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We know that HIV is a major health concern in Malawi, and many people receiving care for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) also struggle with alcohol use, which can make HIV prevention and treatment harder. Our team is taking a proven program called TrEAT, which helps people reduce their alcohol consumption, and adapting it specifically for individuals in STI clinics. This adapted program will support both people living with HIV and those at high risk of getting HIV, helping them manage alcohol use and improve their overall health outcomes. The goal is to create a widely usable tool that can be put into practice in many different settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of program would be adults aged 21 and older who are receiving care for sexually transmitted infections in Malawi and are also engaging in hazardous alcohol use.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have HIV or are not at risk for HIV, or who do not engage in hazardous alcohol use, may not directly benefit from this specific intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could lead to better ways to prevent HIV and improve treatment results for people in Malawi by addressing hazardous alcohol use.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown that the TrEAT program is effective at reducing alcohol use and improving viral suppression among people with HIV in various global settings, including sub-Saharan Africa.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, 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 2026-06-13 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.