Motivation Matters! mobile support to help African women who engage in sex work stay on HIV medicine

Hybrid Type-1 Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Motivation Matters! A Theory-Based mHealth Intervention to Support Early Antiretroviral Adherence in HIV+ African Women Who Engage in Sex Work

NIH-funded research University of Washington · NIH-11189719

A phone-based program using tailored reminders and motivational messages to help African women who engage in sex work keep taking their HIV medicines.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Washington NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project IDNIH-11189719 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would get a mobile intervention that sends personalized messages, reminders, and support based on what helps you take your HIV medicine. The program was designed with input from women who engage in sex work to make the content acceptable and useful. In the project, some participants will use the app while others get usual care so the team can compare outcomes like viral load, adherence, and satisfaction. The study includes regular check-ins, questionnaires, and health measurements to see whether the mobile support helps people stay on treatment.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People ideal for this work are HIV-positive African women who engage in sex work and who are starting or having trouble staying on antiretroviral therapy.

Not a fit: Those who are not HIV-positive, are outside the study locations, lack phone access, or are already reliably undetectable on treatment are unlikely to benefit from joining this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help participants stay on antiretroviral therapy more consistently and reach undetectable viral loads, improving health and reducing transmission risk.

How similar studies have performed: Past large trials in this population have not shown strong effects, but the team’s small randomized test showed the app is acceptable and gave early signs of benefit, so the approach is promising but not yet proven.

Where this research is happening

Seattle, 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 SyndromeAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeAcquired 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.