VS4A: A video program to help adolescents with HIV stick to treatment
Official title: VS4A: VITAL Start (Video-Intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life) for Adolescents, a video intervention to improve retention and adherence to ART among adolescents living with HIV
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11408713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A video-based program tailored for adolescents with HIV in Malawi aims to improve staying in care and sticking to ART by using engaging videos and conversations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $749,153 |
| NIH project number | 5UG1MD019436-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408713 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents living with HIV in Malawi and their guardians and health care workers involved in their care.
✕Less likely to help
Teens without access to participating clinics or who do not engage with the Teen Club format may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project adapts a proven video intervention for adolescents living with HIV to a new setting, using input from patients, guardians, and health workers. It will test the program in a multisite cluster randomized trial in Malawi, comparing VS4A-enhanced Teen Clubs to standard Teen Clubs. The study looks at whether more teens stay in care and achieve viral suppression at six months, along with how well clinics adopt and implement the intervention. Qualitative work will explore acceptability and feasibility among teens, guardians, and clinicians. If successful, the intervention could be scaled to more sites to improve long-term treatment outcomes for ALHIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the VS4A program could improve retention in care and viral suppression for adolescents with HIV, leading to better health and fewer HIV-related complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous video-adherence interventions have shown promise, with potential for improved engagement in care among adolescents in similar settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahmed, Saeed — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Ahmed, Saeed
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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VS4A: A video program to help adolescents with HIV stay in care and take their meds
A video-based program designed for adolescents living with HIV in Malawi to help them stay in care and keep their viral load low, tested in a real-world clinic setting.
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VITAL Start: video program to help teens with HIV stick to treatment
Short, culturally relevant counseling films aim to help adolescents living with HIV stay in care and take their antiretroviral medicines more consistently.
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.