Support for adolescents with HIV moving from pediatric to adult care — virtual versus in-person in South Africa
Interactive Transition Support for Adolescents Living with HIV Comparing Virtual and In-person delivery through a stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial in South Africa
This compares virtual (phone/text/app) versus in-person support to help adolescents with HIV in South Africa stay on treatment and keep their virus low as they move from pediatric to adult clinics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144334 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be invited if you are an adolescent living with HIV who is preparing to move from pediatric to adult HIV care at selected clinics in KwaZulu-Natal. Clinics will begin offering either in-person counseling or virtual support (phone/text/app), with sites switching to the new support in phases so many clinics try both approaches. The study will follow participants through the transition to see who stays in care and who maintains low viral levels, and will also look at costs and how well each approach is delivered. If you join, you could receive extra help planning and navigating the move to adult care through one of these support options.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adolescents living with HIV (approximately ages 12–20) in KwaZulu-Natal who are preparing to transition from pediatric to adult HIV services are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People already established in adult HIV care, those not moving clinics, or those without reliable access to a phone or internet for virtual support may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help more adolescents stay in care and achieve viral suppression, and show whether virtual support can reach more young people at lower cost.
How similar studies have performed: Small in-person and mHealth programs have shown promise, but this is one of the first large randomized trials testing these approaches during the clinic transition in sub-Saharan Africa.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zanoni, Brian C. — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Zanoni, Brian C.
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.