Understanding HIV risks and prevention among women who use drugs in the Southern U.S.
Official title: HIV risk, PrEP disparities, and stigma among Women who use Drugs in the U.S. South, with attention to race and sexual orientation: A mixed-method intersectionality study
Funded at Lsu Health Sciences Center · NIH-10881975 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the specific challenges that cisgender women who use drugs face in the Southern U.S. when it comes to preventing HIV, especially how things like race and sexual orientation can make it harder for them to get the help they need, like PrEP. The goal is to understand their experiences better so we can create better support and resources for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Health Sciences Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $191,051 |
| NIH project number | 5K01DA059328-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10881975 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cisgender women who use drugs and are at risk for HIV, particularly those from marginalized racial and sexual minority backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify as women or who do not use drugs may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the unique challenges faced by cisgender women who use drugs in the Southern United States regarding HIV risk and prevention. It focuses on how factors like race and sexual orientation contribute to stigma and affect access to HIV prevention resources, specifically PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). By employing a mixed-method approach, the study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to PrEP uptake and to understand the intersectional experiences of these women. The findings will help develop targeted interventions to reduce stigma and improve healthcare access for these marginalized groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to HIV prevention resources and better health outcomes for women who use drugs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in addressing HIV prevention disparities among marginalized populations, indicating that this approach has potential for impactful outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Lsu Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Glick, Jennifer L — Lsu Health Sciences Center
- Study coordinator: Glick, Jennifer L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
mChoice: Boosting PrEP Use and Adherence for Black and Latino MSM with Tailored Training and Support
A national study to help Black and Latino men who have sex with men start and stick with PrEP through culturally matched provider training and patient support.
-
Harnessing male peer networks to boost HIV testing and PrEP use
A large clinical trial in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through male peer networks, with phone support, increases PrEP uptake among men.
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Harnessing men's peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
A large project in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through men’s social networks, with phone support, can lead to more men starting PrEP and using HIV testing.
-
Participatory system dynamics to improve PrEP access in the Bronx
A community-driven project in the Bronx will use system dynamics to identify practical ways to help people at risk for HIV start and stay on PrEP.
-
TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
Aims to help people in households with TB in Uganda access HIV PrEP as part of a combined prevention approach.
-
CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
A program called CARES helps young women in South Africa and Zimbabwe use different PrEP options better, with counseling, reminders, and options for support.
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.