Empowerment for positive living: Evaluating the impact of a microfinance intervention on clinical, economic, and behavioral outcomes among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Uganda

Microfinance opportunities to improve quality of life and clinical outcomes among HIV+ patients in Africa: A randomized trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN90313171

Enrollment

2000

Registered

2013-09-24

Start date

2013-08-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-09-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

HIV / AIDS Infections and Infestations Unspecified human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease

Interventions

The Empowerment for Positive Living (EPL) cash grant intervention will provide cash transfers of 350,000 Ugandan shillings (approximately $130 USD) to approximately 1500 clients over a two-year period

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Men and women aged = 18 years 2. Current clients at The AIDS Support Organization (TASO)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Does not meet inclusion criteria

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Quality of Life will be measured using the culturally adapted version of the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS-HIV) tool. Two summary scores will be calculated: the physical health summary (PHS) and the mental health summary (MHS) scores. 2. HIV RNA viral load is a surrogate marker of whether drug treatment is working by suppressing the virus. It is commonly understood as a surrogate of being adherent to treatment and may indicate treatment failure. Viral load will be measured using standard HIV RNA measurement (threshold <400 copies ml). Outcomes measured at baseline and two years later at end line.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Quality of Life will be measured using the culturally adapted version of the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS-HIV) tool. Two summary scores will be calculated: the physical health summary (PHS) and the mental health summary (MHS) scores. 2. HIV RNA viral load is a surrogate marker of whether drug treatment is working by suppressing the virus. It is commonly understood as a surrogate of being adherent to treatment and may indicate treatment failure. Viral load will be measured using standard HIV RNA measurement (threshold <400 copies ml). Outcomes measured at baseline and two years later at end line.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Household food security: We will measure household access to sufficient nutrition using the Household Hunger Scale, which was developed by the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project (FANTA) project by adapting the nine-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) for cross-cultural use. 2. Household income and expenditures: We will collect detailed income and expense information from the respondents every two weeks upon grant receipt, as well as 12 months after grant receipt. 3. Savings and asset accumulation: We will assess the rate savings and asset accumulation for each recipient according to amount saved at 12 months after receiving the grant. The tool we will use considers savings in terms of both cash savings and acquired household items, including animals. 4. Time allocation: Detailed time use data will be collected during the baseline, and every two weeks upon grant receipt, as well as 12 months after grant receipt. 5. Sexual Behaviour: We will assess sexual behavior using the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC, Uganda) Sexual behaviour questionnaire, developed for use specifically with HIV+ patients. The questionnaire inquires of number and types of sexual partners, condom use with different partners and at the last sexual intercourse respectively in the previous 6 months, as well as disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners. 6. CD4 T-cell changes: We will assess CD4 T-cell changes, as a function of immune status using TASO clinic attendance and laboratory readings. 7. Healthcare interruption and retention: We will assess retention in the antioretroviral therapy (ART) program according to whether the patient has attended any TASO clinical appointment in the previous 4 months and survey questions on adherence to medication in the 3 days before the survey occurrence. 8. Attendance of household children in school: Attendance of	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Household food security: We will measure household access to sufficient nutrition using the Household Hunger Scale, which was developed by the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project (FANTA) project by adapting the nine-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) for cross-cultural use. 2. Household income and expenditures: We will collect detailed income and expense information from the respondents every two weeks upon grant receipt, as well as 12 months after grant receipt. 3. Savings and asset accumulation: We will assess the rate savings and asset accumulation for each recipient according to amount saved at 12 months after receiving the grant. The tool we will use considers savings in terms of both cash savings and acquired household items, including animals. 4. Time allocation: Detailed time use data will be collected during the baseline, and every two weeks upon grant receipt, as well as 12 months after grant receipt. 5. Sexual Behaviour: We will assess sexual behavior using the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC, Uganda) Sexual behaviour questionnaire, developed for use specifically with HIV+ patients. The questionnaire inquires of number and types of sexual partners, condom use with different partners and at the last sexual intercourse respectively in the previous 6 months, as well as disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners. 6. CD4 T-cell changes: We will assess CD4 T-cell changes, as a function of immune status using TASO clinic attendance and laboratory readings. 7. Healthcare interruption and retention: We will assess retention in the antioretroviral therapy (ART) program according to whether the patient has attended any TASO clinical appointment in the previous 4 months and survey questions on adherence to medication in the 3 days before the survey occurrence. 8. Attendance of household children in school: Attendance of

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Countries

Uganda

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026