Testing a Combined Peer Navigation and Mobile Health Support to Improve HIV Treatment and Viral Suppression in Young Sexual and Gender Minority Men and Women in Nigeria

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to adapt and test a combined peer navigation and mobile health mHealth approach called the Intensive Combination Approach to Rollback the Epidemic in Nigeria iCARE Nigeria. It focuses on improving HIV treatment engagement, medication adherence, and viral suppression among young men who have sex with men YMSM and young transgender women YTW aged 15 to 29 years in Nigeria. The study evaluates the initial effectiveness and feasibility of this intervention in community settings tailored for these key populations. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one receiving the combination peer navigation and SMS text message medication reminders intervention, and the other receiving the standard of care. The intervention is adapted for community-based outreach and delivered over a 24-week period. The study will assess viral load suppression and other treatment-related outcomes at baseline and after 24 weeks. During the study, participants will be monitored for HIV viral load suppression, retention in HIV care, medication adherence, and the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Data will be collected through medical record reviews and participant feedback. The total duration of participation is 24 weeks, during which researchers will also evaluate aspects of implementation to inform future sustainability and scalability of the intervention.

Combination Intervention to Enhance Treatment Engagement and Viral Suppression Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in Nigeria