Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 15Years +
All Genders
ID07221201

Reducing the Intersecting Stigmas of HIV, Violence Victimization, and Mental Health by Integrating Project YES! With WHO-Endorsed Mental Health Approaches Among Youth Living With HIV in Ndola, Zambia

Led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health · Updated on 2025-11-24

400

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

2 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

J

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Lead Sponsor

F

Fogarty International Center of the National Institute of Health

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating Project YES+, a combined youth peer mentoring and mental health intervention, for adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 living with HIV in Zambia. The study aims to address internalized and intersecting stigmas related to HIV, violence, and depression, which impact antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression. This research builds on previous findings that stigma and mental health challenges contribute to poor HIV outcomes among youth in sub-Saharan Africa. Project YES+ integrates a World Health Organization-endorsed mental health approach into the existing Project YES! peer mentoring program. The intervention lasts about four months and includes orientation meetings with youth clients, caregivers, healthcare workers, and youth peer mentors. Youth participate in individual and group sessions led by peer mentors, including WHO Self Help Plus group meetings. Caregivers attend three group meetings, and a final transition meeting involves both youth and caregivers. The comparison group receives standard care, which includes optional monthly youth groups and referrals for depression or violence as needed. Participants will be involved in baseline and endline assessments measuring stigma, depression, violence, ART adherence, and viral load through blood tests. The study will track attendance at intervention sessions and gather feedback on participants' willingness to recommend Project YES+ to peers and caregivers. This pilot trial will take place over 4 to 8 months, aiming to test the intervention's feasibility and refine stigma measures, contributing to improved HIV care for youth living with HIV in Zambia.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Integrating Project YES! With WHO-Endorsed Mental Health Approaches Among Youth Living With HIV

Who Can Participate

Age: 15Years +
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Youth aged 15 to 21 years
  • Living within 30 minutes by personal transportation of the clinic
  • Available to attend sessions and data collection over 4 to 8 months
  • On antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 6 months
  • On first-line ART
  • Speaks Bemba
  • Caregivers aged 25 years or older
  • Caregivers caring for an eligible youth living with HIV
  • Caregivers speak Bemba
  • Caregivers live within 30 minutes by personal transportation of the clinic
  • Caregivers available to attend sessions and data collection over 4 to 8 months
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Only one youth per household allowed to join
  • Youth at imminent risk of suicide based on WHO guidance on the Self Help Plus program are excluded

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

1
2
3
+1

Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Outpatient Treatment

Duration - About 4 months

Participants in the intervention group will attend Project YES+, which includes orientation, individual and group meetings with youth peer mentors, WHO Self Help Plus group sessions, caregiver group meetings, and a transition meeting with youth and caregivers together. The comparison group will receive standard care, which includes optional monthly youth group and referrals if needed.

Multiple individual and group meetings over 4 months

Follow-up

Duration - Up to 4 months from baseline

Participants will complete endline assessments including measures of stigma, depression, violence, ART adherence, and viral testing after the intervention period to evaluate outcomes.

2 visits (baseline and endline assessments)

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Arthur Davison Children's Hospital

Ndola, Copperbelt, Zambia

Actively Recruiting

Loading map...

Research Team

J

Julie A Denison, PhD

K

Kayayi Chibesa, MPH

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

NONE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Number of Arms

2

Similar Trials

Erectile Function After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention i...

Erectile Disfunction

Actively Recruiting

1 location

#AWARE.HIV Europe: Supporting Healthcare Professionals to Fi...

HIV Infection

Actively Recruiting

28 locations

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions? Get in touch with our team for quick support

Not the Right Trial for You?

Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Already have an account? Log in here

Published Research Related To This Trial

Effect of a Multicomponent Behavioral Intervention in Adults Impaired by Psychological Distress in a Conflict-Affected Area of Pakistan: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Atif Rahman, Syed Usman Hamdani, Naila Riaz Awan...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27837602

Effectiveness of a brief behavioural intervention on psychological distress among women with a history of gender-based violence in urban Kenya: A randomised clinical trial.

Richard A Bryant, Alison Schafer, Katie S Dawson...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28809935

Improving access to evidence-based interventions for young adolescents: Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE).

Katie S Dawson, Sarah Watts, Kenneth Carswell...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30600639

Prevalence of physical and sexual violence and psychological abuse among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Zambia.

Katherine G Merrill, Jacquelyn C Campbell, Michele R Decker...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32584889

Prospective associations between bullying victimisation, internalised stigma, and mental health in South African adolescents living with HIV.

Mark E Boyes, Marija Pantelic, Marisa Casale...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32871672

'They Say HIV is a Punishment from God or from Ancestors': Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Assessment of an HIV Stigma Scale for South African Adolescents Living with HIV (ALHIV-SS).

Marija Pantelic, Mark Boyes, Lucie Cluver...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29497463