Motivation Matters! text messages to help women stick to HIV treatment
Official title: Hybrid Type-1 Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Motivation Matters! A Theory-Based mHealth Intervention to Support Early Antiretroviral Adherence in HIV+ African Women Who Engage in Sex Work
Run by University of Washington · NCT06745050 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether the Motivation Matters! text-message program helps women with HIV who are starting ART take their medicine and reach an undetectable viral load by six months.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 350 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Washington Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nairobi) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 30, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | May 12, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06745050 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adult (over 18) women living with HIV who engage in transactional sex, are not currently on ART and are initiating ART at participating Sex Workers Outreach Program clinics, have access to a mobile phone, and can read messages or have someone read them.
✕Probably not a fit
Women who are already virally suppressed at baseline, are pregnant, plan to move away within six months, or lack reliable phone access are unlikely to receive benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will compare women who receive individualized, interactive text messages plus standard care to those who receive standard care alone, with viral suppression at six months as the primary outcome. Participants receive three messages per week in month one, then two messages per week for the remainder of the six-month intervention, and are asked to send a brief standardized reply after each message. The program is delivered through a mobile phone-based platform and is targeted to HIV-positive women initiating ART who access Sex Workers Outreach Program clinics. Viral load measurements will be used to determine whether the texting intervention improves adherence and leads to undetectable viral load.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the text-message program could help more women starting ART achieve undetectable viral loads by improving medication adherence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous SMS-based adherence programs in low-resource settings have shown modest to moderate success in improving ART adherence, though tailored interactive messaging for women engaged in transactional sex is less well tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age \>18 * Transactional sex in past 12 months * HIV-positive * Not currently on ART * Enrolled in one of the Sex Workers Outreach Program clinics * Has access to mobile phone * Willing to receive study text messages * Able to read or have someone else read Exclusion Criteria: * Plans to move away in next 6 months * Undetectable viral load at baseline * Pregnant
Where it's running
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Partner for Health and Development in Africa
Nairobi, Kenya Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Raymond S McClelland, MD — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Kerri Sloan
- Email: ksloan3@uw.edu
- Phone: 206 543-4278
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.