Uyo

Researchers are evaluating two combination interventions designed to address HIV among youth aged 15 to 24 in Nigeria. These interventions include mHealth and Peer Navigation components, focusing on identifying youth living with HIV, linking them to care, promoting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among those testing negative, and supporting adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for newly diagnosed individuals. The study involves two parallel 48-week trials conducted in six Nigerian states, aiming to assess both the effectiveness and implementation success of these approaches. The first intervention, HIV Case Finding, targets young men, especially young men who have sex with men (YMSM), to encourage HIV testing and linkage to care if positive, and PrEP initiation if negative. This is a single-arm trial enrolling 6000 participants. The second, HIV Treatment Intervention, is a randomized controlled trial enrolling 600 youth newly diagnosed with HIV who are starting ART for the first time. Interventions include behavioral supports such as peer navigation, motivational interviewing, social media outreach, and SMS reminders alongside standard care. Participants will be involved for 48 weeks, during which they will receive support to promote HIV testing, linkage to care, PrEP uptake, and ART adherence. Researchers will monitor viral suppression and adherence to ART in the treatment group and assess identification of HIV-positive youth and linkage to care in the case finding group. The study will also evaluate the success of intervention implementation in the target populations. Regular follow-up and support through peer navigators and digital messaging are part of the participant experience throughout the study period.

Researchers are conducting a Phase 3, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial to assess whether azithromycin taken as a preventive treatment can reduce death rates in adults with advanced HIV disease. Participants eligible for the study must have confirmed HIV infection with low CD4 counts or specific treatment histories, reflecting advanced immunosuppression. The trial aims to better understand mortality outcomes related to this preventive approach in this population. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either azithromycin tablets or placebo tablets for 28 days. All participants will be followed for 24 weeks after randomization to measure the main outcome of death from any cause, with total follow-up lasting 48 weeks. The study compares the effects of azithromycin prophylaxis against an inactive placebo to evaluate its impact on survival. During the study, participants will be monitored regularly to track health outcomes, particularly mortality. They must be able to start or adjust antiretroviral therapy within four weeks of joining the trial. Researchers will closely observe for any adverse effects, treatment adherence, and overall health status throughout the follow-up period to assess the safety and effectiveness of the intervention.