LOTUS: an MHealth Intervention to Improve HIV Prevention Service Engagement Intersectional Stigma Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Women Who Use Drugs
University of California, San Diego
Summary
The goal of this pilot randomized controlled trial is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of the mHeaLth interventiOn To redUce Stigma (LOTUS) intervention to improve HIV prevention service engagement and reduce intersectional stigma among racially diverse women who use drugs. LOTUS is a technology-delivered intervention that provides HIV prevention informational content and tips, peer social support and social networking features, a resource locator, HIV prevention monitoring and reminders (e.g., reminders for HIV/STI testing and PrEP doses), and virtual guided discussions with health care professionals.
Description
The LOTUS intervention is a technology-delivered intervention to improve HIV prevention service engagement and reduce intersectional stigma, guided by the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework and the Theory of Triadic Influences, for racially and ethnically diverse women who use drugs. LOTUS provides HIV prevention informational content and tips, peer social support and social networking features, a resource locator, HIV prevention monitoring and reminders (e.g., reminders for HIV/STI testing and PrEP doses), and virtual guided discussions with health care professionals. Given the dispro…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older * Current female identity * Assigned female at birth * Report weekly or daily use of opioids and/or stimulants in the past 6 months * Meet current CDC eligibility criteria for PrEP * Report low levels of HIV prevention service engagement in the past 6 months * Not currently, or planning on becoming, pregnant during the study * Owns a smartphone with internet web-browsing capabilities Exclusion Criteria: * 17 years of age or younger * Current gender identity other than female * Not assigned female at birth * Does not report weekly or daily use o…
Interventions
- BehavioralLOTUS mHealth Intervention Group
A mobile, WebApp-based intervention comprised of tips for HIV prevention, a community wall for peer interaction and support, HIV prevention monitoring and reminders, guided discussions with a health care professional, a resource database, and a personalized profile. Intervention components are designed to promote HIV prevention service use, reduce stigma and improve social support, coping strategies, and positive affect.
- BehavioralLOTUS Control Group
Access to an information-only website with content on HIV transmission, PrEP, harm reduction, and resources for women.
Location
- University of California San DiegoLa Jolla, California