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The Outreach and Prevention at ALcohol Venues in East Africa Study (OPAL-East Africa- Aim 2) (OPAL-Aim 2)

Innovative Strategies to Promote Biomedical HIV Prevention Uptake and Retention Among High-risk Adults at Drinking Venues in Kenya and Uganda

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06036238
Acronym
OPAL-Aim 2
Enrollment
400
Registered
2023-09-13
Start date
2024-05-17
Completion date
2027-06-01
Last updated
2026-07-14

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

Conditions

HIV/AIDS

Keywords

Alcohol use, Biomedical HIV prevention, Uganda, Kenya, Counseling intervention

Brief summary

This study will evaluate the effect of a brief alcohol counseling intervention on PrEP and PEP adherence among adults with heavy alcohol use at high risk for HIV, while gaining insights into the facilitators, barriers, and cost-effectiveness of this approach.

Detailed description

The investigators have developed a mobilization strategy of integrating HIV testing within multi-disease screening to recruit \>2,000 people from drinking venues in Kenya and Uganda and invite them to begin biomedical HIV prevention if eligible (OPAL Aim 1; NCT05862857) Following uptake of biomedical HIV prevention, persons with heavy alcohol use face challenges with retention in care and adherence to PrEP/PEP. The investigators have adapted a brief alcohol counseling intervention (Health Living Intervention) to reduce alcohol use and promote antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and HIV viral suppression among persons with HIV in Kenya and Uganda. The investigators now need to determine whether this intervention can promote retention in biomedical prevention and PrEP/PEP adherence among adults with heavy alcohol use. Specific Aims: * Determine the efficacy of the Healthy Living Intervention (HLI) to reduce heavy alcohol use vs. standard care (control) on retention in biomedical HIV prevention in a randomized trial among adults with heavy alcohol use. * Determine the cost-effectiveness of interventions that increase biomedical HIV prevention retention among adults at high-risk for HIV who attend drinking venues. The proposed research will address the critical intersection of alcohol use and HIV risk in SSA, by promoting retention of biomedical HIV prevention and exploring associated facilitators and barriers.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALHealthy Living Intervention (HLI)

The Healthy Living Intervention (HLI) is a brief alcohol counseling intervention developed using the Information, Motivation, and Behavioral skills (IMB) model, a framework in which information, motivation, and behavioral skills are key determinants of health behavior. Participants initiating PrEP will be randomized to either HLI or standard of care alcohol counseling.

BEHAVIORALStandard of Care

Participants who are randomized to the control arm will receive basic alcohol counseling through the Ministry of Health if it is provided as standard of care.

Sponsors

University of California, San Francisco
Lead SponsorOTHER
University of California, Berkeley
CollaboratorOTHER
Makerere University
CollaboratorOTHER
Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Uganda
CollaboratorOTHER
Kenya Medical Research Institute
CollaboratorOTHER
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Adult (≥18 years) * HIV-uninfected (by rapid HIV antibody test) * AUDIT-C score of \>=4 for men and \>=3 for women * Attending a clinical visit for initiation of biomedical HIV prevention with oral or injectable PrEP or oral PEP (or the dapivirine vaginal ring, if available) * Has access to a mobile phone

Exclusion criteria

* Ineligible for PrEP based on MoH guidelines * Intention to move away from the study community in the coming year * Gross inebriation or inability to provide informed consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of follow up time on biomedical prevention with PrEP or PEPMeasured 24 weeks after PrEP or PEP initiationThe proportion of time during the 24 weeks after PrEP/PEP initiation that a person is protected from HIV with PrEP/PEP, assessed by prescription refill data. Prescription refill data will be collected from MoH medical and pharmacy records, augmented by OPAL case report forms.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of follow up time on biomedical prevention with PrEP or PEP- 48 weeksMeasured over 48 weeks after PrEP or PEP initiationSecondary analysis of the primary outcome will measure the proportion of time that a person is protected from HIV with PrEP/PEP over 48 weeks, with integrated drug levels measured in hair samples collected at 48 weeks.
Proportion of participants with unhealthy alcohol use (defined by AUDIT-C ≥3 for women, ≥4 for men, and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) ≥50 ng/mL) at week 48Measured 48 weeks after PrEP or PEP initiationStudy staff will assess AUDIT-C scores (modified to refer to the prior 3 months, with a minimum of 0, indicating no alcohol use, and a maximum of 12) with a standard drink guide adapted to local context at baseline and every 12-weeks post-baseline. Blood will also be collected, and dried blood spots prepared for phosphatidylethanol (PEth) testing (measured in ng/mL with higher levels associated with greater alcohol use) at baseline and 48-weeks for confirmation of self-reported alcohol use.
Proportion of participants with HIV seroconversion by week 48Measured 48 weeks after PrEP or PEP initiationHIV seroconversion will be measured as documented rapid HIV antibody test positivity with Geenius confirmation or documented detectable HIV viral load, with rapid HIV testing. HIV testing will occur at PrEP refill and injection visits, or completion of a course of PEP.

Countries

Kenya, Uganda

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORGabriel Chamie, MD, MPH

University of California, San Francisco

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jul 15, 2026