HIV, Substance Abuse
Conditions
Keywords
HIV, Sexual Risk, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Substance Abuse, Violence and Victimization
Brief summary
This supplement study is an adaptation of the larger NIH-funded parent study, the Women's Health CoOp+, which tests a combination biobehavioral HIV prevention approach to enhance standard HIV testing practices for alcohol and drug (AOD)-using women across the city of Pretoria, South Africa. The current supplemental study seeks to reach AOD-using female adolescents who experience the greatest burden of new HIV infections and are currently underserved by HIV and drug-treatment programs in Cape Town, South Africa and test the validation of both the instrument and adapted intervention.
Detailed description
This study is testing and validating both the revised instrument and adapted intervention through a small pilot trial where a cluster randomized design is used to recruit 100 participants through snowball sampling by community to either the YWHC condition or standard HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT); collect biological specimens to screen for recent drug use, pregnancy and HIV infection and provide referrals for care to resources; conduct process evaluation measures for satisfaction and a 1-month follow-up post-intervention interview assessing the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of conducting this intervention among vulnerable young women and linking them to care. Young women from disadvantaged communities in Cape Town who have dropped out of school and who use AODs are highly vulnerable to physical victimization (violence and sexual victimization) from any perpetrator, including main sexual partners and drug-related sexual risks for HIV. Yet these vulnerable young women remain underserved by current HIV and drug treatment programs in the region, even though they are experiencing the greatest burden of new HIV infections in the country. The adapted Young Women's Health CoOp (YWHC) intervention has a high likelihood of wider implementation, sustainability, and a significant public health impact by reducing the exceedingly high HIV incidence amongst the most vulnerable populations in South Africa.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALYoung Women's Health CoOp (YWHC)
Participants in this group will participate in two workshops of the young woman-focused intervention about HIV/STIs (sexually transmitted infections), sexual behaviors, alcohol and other drug use, violence, communication skills, and other issues. Participants will develop personalized risk reduction action plans at the end of each workshop session.
BEHAVIORALHIV Counseling/Testing
Participants will be tested for HIV and if positive will receive counseling in accordance with national standards.
Sponsors
Medical Research Council, South Africa
RTI International
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
16 Years to 21 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female, 16 to 21 years of age * Dropped out of school for at least 6 months * Currently dropped out of school * Have not completed matric or N 3 certificate * Have used at least one drug (which can include alcohol) at least weekly in the past 90 days * Report unprotected sex with a male partner in the last 90 days * Able to provide informed assent to participate or informed consent if at least 18 years old * Live in a targeted community Delft, Khayelitsha, or Mfuleni
Exclusion criteria
• Have been a part of formative activities
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Unprotected intercourse among women | One month post-intervention | Percentages of condom use at last sex |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol use | One month post-intervention | Frequency of alcohol use in past 30 days measured by RRBA (Revised Risk Behavior Assessment) and breath test |
| Substance use | One month post-intervention | Use of benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), marijuana and/or mandrax as determined by PRBA (Pretoria Risk Behavior Assessment) |
| Victimization | One month post-intervention | Percentages of young women who report being beaten in the previous 30 days |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed