Phone-based support to help young adults in Zambia manage HIV and reduce substance use
Official title: Adapting mHealth interventions to improve self-management of HIV and substance use among emerging adults in Zambia
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11393465 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a mobile program with brief counseling sessions plus motivational text messages to help 18–24-year-olds in Zambia stay on HIV treatment and cut back on alcohol or drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $58,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R34DA059935-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393465 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are 18–24-year-olds living with HIV in Zambia who have challenges with medication adherence, retention in care, or alcohol/drug use.
✕Less likely to help
People outside the 18–24 age range, individuals without regular access to a mobile phone or network service, or those needing intensive inpatient substance use treatment may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
As a young person with HIV in Zambia, I would receive a four-session, phone-adapted version of the Healthy Choices counseling plus motivational text messages delivered through a mobile platform. The team will convert the in-person program into an mHealth format and use a structured approach to test which mix of components works best for people like me. The work is planned in three phases including adaptation, pilot testing, and optimization using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST). The tools will be delivered through the CIAS platform to help with medication adherence, retention in care, and reducing substance use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help young people with HIV stay on their medications, reduce substance use, and remain engaged in care using phone-based support.
How similar studies have gone: In-person Healthy Choices programs and HIV text-message interventions have shown promise for improving adherence, but combining and adapting them for mobile delivery among young Zambians is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Bo — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Wang, Bo
Related research
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Mobile phone support to help young adults in Zambia manage HIV and reduce substance use
This project will adapt a four‑session counseling program into mobile sessions and add motivational text messages to help 18–24-year-olds in Zambia living with HIV stay on treatment and cut down on alcohol or drug use.
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Improving HIV self-management and reducing substance use among young adults in Zambia
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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.