Peer-reviewed article
Suubi4Stigma study protocol: a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial to address HIV-associated stigma among adolescents living with HIV in Uganda
Proscovia Nabunya, Fred M. Ssewamala, Ozge Sensoy Bahar, Lynn Michalopoulos, James Mugisha et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study protocol describes a pilot trial testing two interventions to reduce HIV-related stigma among children aged 10-14 living with HIV in Uganda and their caregivers. The study will compare group cognitive behavioral therapy and a multiple family group intervention against usual care, delivered over three months with follow-up at six months. The research addresses the serious problem that stigma associated with HIV leads to poor mental health, lower quality of life, and worse treatment outcomes for children and families affected by HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Key points
- Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 85% of new HIV infections among adolescents globally
- HIV-associated stigma results in lower quality of life, poor mental health, and worse treatment outcomes for children living with HIV
- Family members also experience stigma by association with an HIV-infected family member
- The study compares two evidence-based interventions: group cognitive behavioral therapy and multiple family group therapy
- The trial involves 90 child-caregiver dyads across nine clinics randomized to three arms with data collection at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months
Limitations
This is a protocol document describing a planned study, not results. It cannot tell us whether the interventions are actually effective, what outcomes will be achieved, or how the interventions will perform in practice.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is heavily burdened by HIV, with 85% of the global new infections among adolescents happening in the region. With advances in medication and national policies promoting antiretroviral therapy (ART), children < 15 years living with HIV (CLWH) continue to grow with a chronic, highly stigmatized disease. Unfortunately, the stigma they experience results in much lower quality of life, including poor mental health and treatment outcomes. Family members also experience stigma and shame by virtue of their association with an HIV-infected family member. Yet, stigma-reduction interventions targeting CLWH and their families are very limited. The goal of this study is to address HIV-associated stigma among CLWH and their caregivers in Uganda. METHODS: This three-arm cluster randomized control trial, known as Suubi4Stigma, will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of two evidence-based interventions: (1) group cognitive behavioral therapy (G-CBT) focused on cognitive restructuring and strengthening coping skills at the individual level and (2) a multiple family group (MFG) intervention that strengthens family relationships to address stigma among CLWH (N = 90, 10-14 years) and their families (dyads) in Uganda. Nine clinics will be randomized to one of three study arms (n = 3 clinics, 30 child-caregiver dyads each): (1) usual care; (2) G-CBT + usual care; and (3) MFG + usual care. Both treatment and control conditions will be delivered over a 3-month period. Data will be collected at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 3 months and 6 months post-intervention initiation. CONCLUSION: The primary aim of the proposed project is to address the urgent need for theoretically and empirically informed interventions that seek to reduce HIV-associated stigma and its negative impact on adolescent health and psychosocial well-being. As several countries in SSA grapple with care and support for CLWH, this study will lay the foundation for a larger intervention study investigating how HIV-associated stigma can be reduced to foster healthy child development-especially for CLWH as they transition through adolescence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04528732 ; Registered August 27, 2020.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Two evidence-based interventions: (1) group cognitive behavioral therapy (G-CBT) focused on cognitive restructuring and strengthening coping skills; (2) multiple family group (MFG) intervention to strengthen family relationships and address stigma
- Population
- Children aged 10-14 living with HIV and their caregivers in Uganda (N=90 child-caregiver dyads across nine clinics)
Nabunya et al. · Prof. Fred M. Ssewamala (OpenAlex works) · 29 Apr 2022