The purpose of this study is to determine whether a combined individual and structural level stigma reduction intervention is effective in reducing high risk injecting and sexual behaviors among HIV positive injecting drug users.
This study is a randomized controlled trial among HIV-positive injecting drug users (IDUs) to reduce high risk injecting and sexual behaviors in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam. We will be conducting this study in collaboration with the Thai Nguyen Centre for Preventive Medicine (CPM). We will compare standard HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) to an intervention that adds a continuum of psychosocial support for HIV-positive IDUs. The intervention consists of a two-tiered approach that addresses structural and individual level barriers to risk reduction: 1) The structural level of the intervention consists of community-based programs and targets HIV stigma that is a primary obstacle to risk reduction for HIV-positive individuals; 2) The individual level of the intervention consists of 2 HIV posttest counseling sessions and 2 skill-building support groups for HIV-positive IDUs. Our research questions for the overall project are: 1. What is the impact of perceived HIV-related stigma on disclosure, social support, and coping among IDUs? 2. What roles do disclosure, social support, and coping play in facilitating the reduction of HIV-risk behaviors 3. Are combined individual and structural level interventions more effective in reducing injecting and sexual behaviors among HIV-positive IDUs than individual or structural interventions alone and more effective than the standard HIV VCT?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
2,175
Index participants will participate in standard HIV VCT supplemented with 2 posttest counseling sessions, followed by 2 post-test skill-building support groups for HIV positive IDUs.
Community members will participate in 2 community-based HIV and IDU stigma videos combined with a series of visits with community outreach workers.
The education materials that are currently offered in Thai Nguyen will be delivered didactically by health workers on 1) the HIV situation in Vietnam; 2) consequences of drug use; 3) routes of HIV transmission; and 4) options for drug treatment.
Center for Preventive Medicine
Thái Nguyên, Thai Nguyen, Vietnam
HIV injecting risk behavior
Change in self-reported use of new injecting equipment
Time frame: 2 years
HIV sexual risk behavior
Change in self-reported condom use during sexual intercourse
Time frame: 2 years
HIV incidence
Change in HIV incidence among network members
Time frame: 2 years
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Posters and billboards on HIV/AIDS transmission, leaflets on HIV/AIDS transmission available in health station, 15-minute monthly public broadcasts (via the village loudspeaker) on the consequences of HIV/AIDS and the number of HIV cases in the country and province will be delivered in communities.