Peer support to stay on HIV treatment after leaving prison
Structured Peer-delivered ART and Reentry Community Strategy (SPARCS) to overcome barriers to HIV care continuity during community reentry from incarceration in South Africa
This project offers peer-led delivery of HIV medicine plus group support to adults leaving prison in South Africa to help them stay on treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171740 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would work with trained peers who help give HIV medicine directly and lead group sessions that build planning skills, confidence, and social support after release from incarceration. The program also helps overcome paperwork and clinic access barriers so you can continue care in the community. A previous pilot with 176 participants found higher 6-month retention in the peer program than usual care, and this project aims to test scaling the approach across more people and sites. Researchers will compare how well the expanded program keeps people in care while looking at feasibility and costs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV who are preparing for release from, or recently released from, correctional facilities in South Africa are the best fit for this program.
Not a fit: People without HIV, those not recently released from incarceration, or individuals already stably retained in HIV care are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help many people leaving incarceration stay on HIV treatment and reduce preventable deaths.
How similar studies have performed: A prior pilot of the SPARCS approach showed improved 6-month retention (61% in the program vs 36% with usual care), so this work builds on promising early results.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoffmann, Christopher J — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Hoffmann, Christopher J
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 below.