Mental Health and Medication Adherence Among MSM in South Africa

NCT ID: NCT06880172

Last Updated: 2025-03-17

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-09-30

Study Completion Date

2026-09-30

Brief Summary

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The goal of this behavioral study is to improve psychological well-being and optimization of HIV prevention and care outcomes for Men who have sex with men (MSM) in South Africa.

Detailed Description

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Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at an increased risk of HIV infection and transmission, and MSM with depression or anxiety may have adherence to medication challenges. Development of an integrated mental health and adherence support intervention for MSM can be an effective strategy to improve both psychological outcomes and care continuum outcomes including adherence to Pre-Exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART).

The team proposes developing an intervention approach that responds to the unique social contexts of South African MSM living with or at risk for HIV, and that addresses the relationship between mental health and adherence to HIV prevention medication (daily PrEP) and ART. This intervention approach, WeCare, will adapt an evidence-based program entitled Friendship Bench (i.e., FB) - an empirically supported mental health program using problem-solving therapy (developed/validated in southern Africa) - to incorporate mental health and medication adherence concerns for MSM.

Conditions

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HIV

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Intervention Condition

The intervention involves four weekly individual sessions followed by four weekly group support sessions, focusing on themes from the individual sessions. Services will be provided by peer wellness coaches from the MSM community, who will undergo an intensive two-week training with role-play and feedback, followed by weekly supervision. All testing and treatment services are provided free through Aurum.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

WeCare

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Individual level: Problem identification, Linking Mental health and minority stress, medication adherence, developing an action plan, complementing the plan, and follow-up.

Group level: Social support and self acceptance in MSM, coping with stigma and minority stress, support for medication adherence

Control Condition

The control group (Phase 3) will receive enhanced standard care which includes access to services offered at the POP INN Wellness Clinic including psychoeducation for all individuals who enroll in PrEP or ART services, free medication, enrollment in their standard drop-in Mpowerment support groups, as well as referrals to mental health services on request

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard of Care

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Access to services offered at the POP INN Wellness Clinic including psychoeducation for all individuals who enroll in PrEP or ART services, free medication, and enrollment in their standard drop-in. Mpowerment support groups, as well as referrals to mental health services on request

Interventions

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WeCare

Individual level: Problem identification, Linking Mental health and minority stress, medication adherence, developing an action plan, complementing the plan, and follow-up.

Group level: Social support and self acceptance in MSM, coping with stigma and minority stress, support for medication adherence

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standard of Care

Access to services offered at the POP INN Wellness Clinic including psychoeducation for all individuals who enroll in PrEP or ART services, free medication, and enrollment in their standard drop-in. Mpowerment support groups, as well as referrals to mental health services on request

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Cis-gender male
* Reside in the Johannesburg metropolitan area with no plans to relocate during the next 6 months
* Current prescription for any ART regimen (HIV-positive participants) or daily oral PrEP (HIV-negative participants) at the POP INN clinic
* Self-reported challenges adhering to daily ART (HIV-positive participants) or PrEP (HIV-negative participants)
* Interested in participating in a group discussion to discuss common mental health problems and medication adherence challenges
* Ability to understand and provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

* Presently engaged in mental health therapy.
* Participated as an intervention participant in a pilot mental health study (AUR6-8-403)
* Refuses audio recording of the focus group discussion
* Those who score over 20 on the PHQ-9 (i.e., indicating severe depression)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Emory University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Don Operario

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Jacqueline Pienaar

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg

Locations

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The Aurum Institute

Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Site Status

Countries

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South Africa

Central Contacts

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Don Operario, PhD

Role: CONTACT

404-727-0503

Danielle Giovenco

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Jacqueline Pienaar, PhD

Role: primary

+27-82-965-5098

Eduard Sanders

Role: backup

+254-723-593-762

Other Identifiers

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R34MH135806

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

STUDY00007894

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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