In July 2023, two events marked the end of the project, one in Uganda at JCRC and one at the Houses of Parliament hosted by the APPG on HIV/AIDS.
HEADS-UP is a study that aims to develop and test the feasibility of a behavioural intervention to increase onward disclosure levels and support onward disclosure decision-making in perinatally infected 18-25 year olds in Uganda and 18-29 year olds in the UK.
What does the study involve?
The study involves developing a programme (an intervention) for 18-29 year olds who have grown up with HIV in the UK and 18-25 year olds in Uganda, to help with decision-making about sharing an HIV-positive status with others (onward HIV disclosure). In particular, the researchers want to know whether people will take part in the study, stay in the study until the end, and whether the programme is acceptable. Participants are randomly allocated to receive the intervention or standard care. The intervention consists of four sessions (90 minutes per session) delivered in a mixed group/individual format (3 group and 1 individual session). Face to face interviews with ten participants in the UK and ten participants in Uganda are also conducted.
Phase 1
Interviews and intervention development.
This phase will develop the intervention. We will use interviews with 20 young people living with HIV (10 in Uganda and 10 in the UK), and 20 of their partners, friends and family (10 in Uganda and 10 in the UK). We will also interview 10 doctors, nurses and peer workers who work with young people living with HIV (5 in Uganda and 5 in the UK).
Phase 2
Feasibility trial.
This phase will test the feasibility of the study against a standard of care condition in the UK and Uganda.
