Scaling economic empowerment for young people affected by HIV
Bridges2Scale: Testing implementation strategies for an intervention among young people affected by AIDS
This project tries different ways to expand a program that gives financial skills, family income support, and matched savings accounts to adolescents and young adults affected by HIV in Sub‑Saharan Africa.
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-11400581 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered the Bridges program, which combines financial literacy and mentorship, family income-generating activities, and a matched Youth Development Account to help adolescents and youth affected by HIV save money and build skills. The research compares different ways of delivering these services across communities in Sub‑Saharan Africa to find approaches that reach more young people and can be sustained. Participants will be followed over time with information collected on HIV risk behaviors, ART adherence, mental health, schooling, and family well-being. This project builds on earlier trials and focuses on making the proven program work at larger scale.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults in Sub‑Saharan Africa who are living with HIV or who have been orphaned or otherwise directly affected by HIV.
Not a fit: People who are not adolescents or young adults, who live outside the participating communities, or who do not want to take part in savings or family-based economic activities are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help young people affected by HIV improve medication adherence, reduce risky behaviors, and strengthen family economic stability.
How similar studies have performed: Previous randomized trials of the Bridges program in Uganda and Kenya have shown meaningful improvements in adherence, mental health, risk behaviors, education, and family outcomes, so this work is building on proven approaches.
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.