Linking incarcerated women to HIV prevention services after release
Official title: A Pilot Feasibility HIV prevention Study Linking Incarcerated Women to Post-Release Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) Services
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10839073 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to help mostly African American women who have just been released from prison get access to a medication called PrEP that can help prevent HIV, by providing them with support and education from people who understand their experiences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $677,589 |
| NIH project number | 1R34MH130262-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10839073 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are African American women who are currently incarcerated and at high risk for HIV acquisition upon their release.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for HIV or who are not women may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to connect mostly African American women who are released from incarceration to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services, which can significantly reduce the risk of HIV acquisition. The program, called FIT for PrEP (F4P), will adapt an existing support framework to address the unique challenges these women face during their transition back into the community. By utilizing peer community health workers who have experienced incarceration, the program will provide education and social support to encourage PrEP use and improve health outcomes. The research will involve pre-testing and piloting the adapted intervention to ensure it meets the needs of the target population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of HIV among formerly incarcerated women by improving their access to preventive services.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using peer support models to improve health outcomes in similar populations, indicating that this approach has potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Becky L — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: White, Becky L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Harnessing male peer networks to boost HIV testing and PrEP use
A large clinical trial in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through male peer networks, with phone support, increases PrEP uptake among men.
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Harnessing men's peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
A large project in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through men’s social networks, with phone support, can lead to more men starting PrEP and using HIV testing.
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TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
Aims to help people in households with TB in Uganda access HIV PrEP as part of a combined prevention approach.
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How choosing PrEP products could improve HIV protection for young women in Kenya
This project looks at which HIV-prevention options young Kenyan women prefer and how choosing a product affects how well they stay protected.
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Effectiveness of PrEP product choice for HIV prevention among young Kenyan women seeking reproductive health services
A study tests which PrEP options best help young Kenyan women stay protected against HIV when they access reproductive health services.
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Nurse-led group program to boost PrEP use for women at risk of HIV
A nurse-developed, three-session group program helps women in midwestern cities start and stay on PrEP to prevent HIV.
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.