HIV Prevention and Care Engagement in Nepal

NCT07528573 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 4632024R01TW012397
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 31
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This intervention focuses on increasing HIV testing, HIV medication adherence and reducing intersectional stigma. Our Sweekar intervention will implement 5 months of group-based activities to address the social stigma and HIV prevention and care needs.

Conditions

HIV

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• HIV testing Self-testing kits

  Number of HIV self tests kits used at home or at a hospital or clinic

  At baseline and at 3 months

• HIV testing frequency

  HIV testing; Number of times received HIV testing using clinic or resources that is not HIV self-testing kits

  Baseline, 3 months and 6 months

• HIV treatment engagement

  Self-reported Wilson's Medication Scale to assess adherence patterns.

  At baseline, 3 months and 6 months

Study Arms (1)

Group-based intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Group-based activities and HIV self-testing to address social stigma and HIV prevention and care needs

Behavioral: Sweekar intervention

Interventions

Sweekar intervention BEHAVIORAL

The HIV prevention components focus on HIV education and use of HIV self-testing kits to increase frequency of HIV testing. The HIV care component is information and linkage to HIV treatment information and adherence support.

Group-based intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: trans women
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• aged 18 years old or older
• identify as transgender, hijra, Meti, third gender or anything other than a gender typically associated with a male assigned sex at birth
• live in the Terai highway district Madesh Province
• Maithili- or Nepali-speaking
• Willing to be part of the study for 6 months
• Willing to travel, if needed, to participate in group sessions
• For those who test HIV negative:
• Willing to self-test
• Have or willing to have a mobile phone
• Not HIV tested within the last 3 months
• For those who test HIV positive:
• (a) screen positive for HIV treatment non-adherence by self-report

You may not qualify if:

• Cannot or will not consent to the research,
• Female sex assigned at birth,
• Self-identify as a man
• Do not speak Maithli or Nepali
• Age under 18 -

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Public Health Foundation Enterprises, Inc.: lead
• Fogarty International Center of the National Institute of Health: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

BDS

Kathmandu, Nepal

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 27, 2025
• First Posted: April 14, 2026
• Study Start: May 27, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2025
• Study Completion: May 31, 2025
• Last Updated: April 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

NE (1)