International

Multilevel HIV Prevention Intervention with MSM in Peru

Investigators: Susan Kegeles, Andre Maiorana, Carlos Caceres (Cayetano Heredia Universityo, Perú)

This project seeks to implement and test a multi-level HIV prevention intervention (Proyecto Orgullo or Project Pride) for MSM and transgender women focusing on the full HIV Continuum of Prevention and Care. It focuses on community mobilization and empowerment around sexual risk reduction, HIV testing, helping gay men and transgender women living with HIV to engage in care, and working with the health system to increase focus on prevention with people living with HIV. This includes treatment as prevention and sensitization of the staff to work with gay men and transgender women. This “combination intervention” addresses individual, interpersonal, social and structural level issues.
 

Chetana-PN: Adapting an Effective Intervention for Enhancing Engagement in HIV Care to Meet the Needs of Key Populations in India

Investigators: Maria Ekstrand, (PI-UCSF), Wayne Steward (PI-UCSF), Dr. Venkatesan Chakrapani (Co-I, Humsafar Trust), Alpana Dange (Co-I, Humsafar Trust), Shruta Rawat (Site PI, Humsafar Trust), Dr. Krishnamachari Srinivasan (Consultant)

Progress toward UNAIDS HIV testing and treatment targets has been slow in many global settings and is especially pronounced among Key Populations, partly due to intersecting stigma. The Chetana-PN study is a collaboration between UCSF and Humsafar Trust in Mumbai. It aims to break the link between stigma and care seeking by adapting and evaluating the Chetana comprehensive wellness program found effective in our previous India research to address the unique barriers to engagement in HIV care experienced by transgender women and men who have sex with men in India.  

The study will enroll 110 participants, who are newly or insufficiently engaged in care at Mumbai ART clinics. The adaptation of our earlier Chetana intervention includes additional wellness group content tailored to meet the needs of our target population, delivered in a flexible format. It also uses peer navigators (PN), to deliver tailored support at convenient times and venues.