Kupambana — economic support and stigma-reduction for young people with HIV in Zambia

Kupambana: A Combined Microeconomic Strengthening and Stigma Reduction Intervention for Young People with HIV in Zambia

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11176348

This program offers both money-help and stigma-reduction support to help young people living with HIV in Zambia stay on treatment and improve mental health.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11176348 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would take part in an 8-week Kupambana program that combines livelihood-strengthening activities (like savings groups or skills training) with workshops to address HIV- and poverty-related stigma. The team will work with young people living with HIV in Zambia and collect information about mental health, medication use, and staying in care over time. The approach builds on earlier work showing economic supports can help wellbeing, while adding stigma-reduction to try to boost treatment start and adherence. Participation would likely involve meeting with program staff at local clinics or community sites and completing short surveys or check-ins.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are young people living with HIV in Zambia who face economic hardship and stigma that make it harder to start or stay on HIV treatment.

Not a fit: People who are not living with HIV, not young, or not located in Zambia would not be eligible and therefore would not receive benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help young people with HIV improve mental health, stay in care, and take antiretroviral medicine more reliably while also strengthening their economic stability.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier small studies suggest economic-strengthening programs can improve wellbeing and some HIV outcomes, but combining economic support and stigma-reduction specifically for young people is a newer approach.

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.