Increasing MSM in the Continuum of Care in Kazakhstan

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: HIV; Substance-Related Disorders
• Interventions: Behavioral: Peer Unity

• Registration Number: NCT02786615
• Lead Sponsor: Columbia University

Brief Summary

This study addresses the disproportionate representation of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic in Kazakhstan, a country that has seen some of the largest growth in new HIV infections since the turn of the century. Using a stepped wedge trial across 3 cities in Kazakhstan, the proposed study will test a strategic and innovative social network-based intervention for MSM who use drugs in Kazakhstan as a strategy to increase their numbers in the HIV continuum of care.

Detailed Description

The intervention is designed to utilize MSM as experts and leverage social network processes to increase the number of MSM in Kazakhstan to be engaged in the HIV continuum of care. The unit of randomization will be a city, with the timing of roll-out of the social network-based intervention in each of the study's cities-Almaty, Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana), and Shymkent-under experimental control. Receipt/delivery of an intervention to enrolled participants will depend on whether the city is in the intervention delivery phase or not. If a participant is in a city during a time period where the intervention is not being delivered then for that time period, the participant is in the control condition. If the participant is in a city during a time period where the intervention is being delivered then the participant (in fact, all participants in that city) will be considered assigned to the intervention group at that time. In theory, all participants will have the opportunity to experience and receive the intervention. Some participants will be enrolled after the intervention has been rolled out in the city in which they reside; thus, they will only experience the intervention condition and not the control condition.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2016-05-26
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-05-26
• Study First Posted: 2016-06-01
• Study Start: 2018-06-27
• Primary Completion: 2022-03-31
• Study Completion: 2022-04-30
• Status Verified: 2022-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-05-23
• Last Update Posted: 2022-05-27

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 987

Inclusion Criteria

• be at least 18 years old;
• identify as male; and
• report oral or anal intercourse with another man in the past 12 months; and
• report binge alcohol consumption and/or illicit use of substances in the past 12 months

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Exclusion Criteria

• has a language or cognitive impairment that would prevent comprehension of study procedures, risks, and benefits (described in Russian during the informed consent process)

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Peer Unity	Peer Unity	Subjects assigned to this arm would receive a 4-session, group-delivered intervention focusing on peer/social network-based recruitment and referral program to receive HIV prevention and treatment services in the community.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Engagement in the HIV care continuum: HIV testing	Past 6 months	Has participant received an HIV test in the past 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
For PLWH, engagement in the HIV care continuum related to HIV medical treatment	Since confirmed HIV infection diagnosis	For PLWH, visiting AIDS center, receiving ART, and/or achieving viral suppression (descriptive/exploratory due to limited statistical power given only a smaller fraction of sample will have known HIV infection)

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Columbia University School of Social Work; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States

Global Health Research Center of Central Asia; 🇰🇿 Almaty, Kazakhstan