Low dead-space syringe and needle distribution for people who inject drugs in low- and middle-income countries

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The project uses focus group discussions with people who inject drugs to select preferred low dead-space syringe and needle (LDSS/N) products, followed by a six-week pilot period offering a small selection of those LDSS/N alongside usual services. A cohort of participants at each site will be enrolled for serial surveys and HIV/HCV rapid testing to monitor uptake, behaviors, and infection outcomes, with larger recruitment planned in Nigeria. Key informant interviews with staff and stakeholders will document implementation challenges and facilitators. Findings will inform selection and scaled distribution of 2–5 LDSS/N products at participating needle and syringe program sites across multiple countries.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged ≥18 years (note that country-specific protocols may include participants aged ≥16 where appropriate and relevant);
* Reporting a history of recent (past month) injection drug use;
* Accessing the NSP to receive injecting equipment at either a facility, mobile service or through outreach and have an accompanying assigned program unique ID;
* Able to understand and communicate in the local language(s);
* If self-reporting HCV/HIV negative status, interested in and agreeing to undergo HCV and HIV testing; and
* Willing and able to provide informed consent to take part in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* N/A

Where it's running

• Real World Real People
  Yerevan, Armenia Recruiting
• Step to Future
  Gori, Georgia Recruiting
• New Vector
  Rustavi, Georgia Recruiting
• Hepa+
  Tbilisi, Georgia Recruiting
• Mukikute
  Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Recruiting
• Peer 2 Peer
  Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Mark Stoové — Burnet
• Study coordinator: Bridget Draper
• Email: bridget.draper@burnet.edu.au
• Phone: +61 413 272 698

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Rapid-start HIV treatment to reduce stigma for people who inject drugs

  This project will test whether starting HIV treatment quickly (within 7 days) reduces stigma and improves care for people who inject drugs, including those in prison.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Yale University · Kajang and 2 other locations · NCT06541028

• Project SHIELD 2.0: Police Education to Support Public Health in Kentucky

  Aimed at police in Kentucky, this program tests whether SHIELD training given to officers, with health workers helping deliver it, can reduce drug-related arrests and steer people who use drugs toward MOUD and other health services.

  Recruiting Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health · Lexington, Kentucky · NCT07804121

• New ways to diagnose lymphoma and multicentric Castleman disease in people living with HIV

  This study tests a quick, point-of-care nucleic acid test to help diagnose lymphoma and multicentric Castleman disease in people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

  Recruiting Indiana University · Lilongwe · NCT07793006

• Bridge to Belonging: A Peer‑Led Program to Reduce Loneliness and Depression in older gay and bisexual men with HIV

  This program tests a peer-delivered, manualized approach to help men aged 50+ with HIV connect to LGBTQ+-affirming elder services to see if it reduces loneliness and depressive symptoms.

  Recruiting Fenway Community Health · Boston, Massachusetts · NCT07762066

• HIV vaccine test in healthy adults using CH505 nanoparticles and mRNA boosters

  This early-stage study will test the safety and immune responses of CH505 vaccine regimens in healthy adults to see if they can trigger HIV-specific immune protection.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 1 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · San Francisco, California and 7 other locations · NCT07757802

• Stigma-reducing program to help women who use drugs stay in HIV care

  This test checks whether a stigma-reduction program helps women living with HIV who use drugs stay engaged in HIV care in Ukraine.

  Recruiting Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health · Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast · NCT07751978

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.