Reducing HIV stigma to help adolescents in Uganda stay on treatment
M-Suubi: A Multi-level integrated intervention to reduce the impact of HIV stigma on HIV treatment outcomes among adolescents living with HIV in Uganda
Combining family support groups, school-based teacher stigma training, and family economic strengthening to help school-going adolescents with HIV in Uganda take their medicines and remain in care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11386825 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a program that brings together adolescents with HIV, their families, and schools to reduce stigma and strengthen economic support for households. Some participants take part in multiple-family group sessions and family economic activities, while schools receive teacher-focused stigma-reduction sessions alongside the family work. The team will follow school-going adolescents over time, checking clinic attendance, medication adherence, and viral suppression, and will compare costs and outcomes between the approaches. Activities occur at participating schools and local clinics in Uganda and involve caregivers as well as the adolescents.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: School-going adolescents living with HIV in Uganda, particularly those in secondary or boarding schools, and their caregivers are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Adults with HIV, adolescents who are not enrolled in school, or people living outside the study areas in Uganda are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase medication adherence and viral suppression by lowering stigma and improving family and school support for adolescents with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Related family-based stigma-reduction and economic-strengthening programs in Sub-Saharan Africa have shown promise, although combining these with school-focused teacher training is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ssewamala, Fred M — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Ssewamala, Fred M
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.