We Are Together: reducing HIV stigma for pregnant and new mothers
We Are Together (WAT):Development and testing of an intervention to reduce HIV-related stigma among pregnant and postpartum women
This project will offer a group-based support program to lower HIV stigma and help pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV in parts of sub‑Saharan Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176314 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to join a support program adapted from Project Accept’s Post Test Support Services that uses group sessions and community activities to address HIV stigma during pregnancy and after birth. The team will tailor the sessions for women in Ghana and work with local clinics to deliver the program. They will collect short surveys, interviews, and routine health information to see whether stigma, mood, and HIV treatment use improve. The researchers will follow participants through pregnancy and the postpartum period to track changes over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant or postpartum women living with HIV at the study sites (for example in Ghana) who can attend group sessions and routine follow‑up visits.
Not a fit: Women who are not pregnant or postpartum, who do not have HIV, or who cannot attend the local program sessions are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce stigma, improve mental health, and help more mothers stay on HIV treatment to protect their own health and reduce mother‑to‑child transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Related Post Test Support Services reduced HIV stigma and improved outcomes in prior adult programs and have been adapted in several countries, but targeted work for pregnant and postpartum women is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ouner, Jerry John — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ouner, Jerry John
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.