HST for Female Sex Workers/Drug Users in Kazakhstan

SPECIFIC AIMS This application seeks to transfer R34 DA049664, awarded previously to Research Foundation City University of New York (Contact MPI: Frye), to Columbia University where both the Contact and non-Contact MPI (El-Bassel) are based. The goal of this study is to assess acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an intervention to increase consistent HIV testing and linkage to care and prevention among female sex workers who inject drugs (FSWID) in Kazakhstan. Central Asia (CA) has one of the world's fastest growing HIV epidemics, increasing 30% since 20101. Key populations made up 95% of new infections in 2017, with 9% among female sex workers (FSW), 39% among people who inject drugs (PWID), and 28% among clients/sex partners of key populations. In Kazakhstan, new HIV infections doubled from 2010 to 2017 and AIDS-related deaths increased 32%. According to the Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases (KSCDID), HIV prevalence is 9% among PWID and 2% among FSW, and incidence increased among both groups from 2016 to 2017. Overall, 79% of people living with HIV (PLWH) were status aware, 43% on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 24% virally suppressed in 2017. FSW who inject drugs (FSWID) are at increased risk of HIV/STI infection and less likely to test/receive care. Prior research found that ~30% of FSWID are HIV-infected.

HIV testing is the point of entry to HIV care and prevention, including PrEP/PEP where available. Consistent testing and early diagnosis are essential to achieving global 90-90-90 targets (90% status aware; 90% on ART; 90% virally suppressed). HIV-related stigmas, including community, enacted/experienced, internalized/self- and anticipated, remain major barriers to HIV testing, care and prevention. FSWID in Kazakhstan experience dual stigma and bias from healthcare providers (HCPs) related to sex work and/or drug use. HIV self-testing (HST) is an acceptable, user-controlled tool that increases new case identification and, due to less contact with HCPs, reduces enacted and anticipated stigma. HST interventions for FSW in Africa increased status knowledge, recent testing and HST is WHO recommended for key populations although reading test results and suboptimal linkage to care are concerns. There is a tension between HST as a private, stigma-avoidant approach and linkage to care/prevention, which is face-to-face. Prior research suggests that FSW welcome HST, but that HCP bias inhibits linkage to care. As PrEP may become available for key populations in CA, interventions to leverage HST to locate new cases via consistent testing and facilitate ART and biomedical prevention linkage are needed. Presently, no such interventions are registered or have been evaluated for FSWID in CA. To address this gap, the study proposes to design and assess feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a novel, theory-based intervention for FSWID that will combine core components from efficacious HST and linkage interventions with novel components to reduce self-stigma and improve anticipated stigma coping, as well as exploratory targets (e.g. HCP/community stigma, collective efficacy, PrEP awareness/intention, etc.) identified via formative research. Finally, the study will describe data required to calculate cost implications related to feasibility/sustainability. The study aims are:

Aim 1: Elicit preferences to inform adaptation of existing evidence-based HST components: training (peer vs. pro), distribution (network vs. site), support (in-person vs. text) and linkage (navigation, etc.). Elicit perspectives to inform design of novel linkage to care/biomedical prevention components. To achieve this aim, the following will occur: formative research (30 in-depth interviews; 4 focus groups [N=20]) to identify preferences around HST; and characterize barriers (e.g. HCP/community/anticipated stigma/self-stigma) to and facilitators of (e.g. self and collective efficacy, empowerment, peer support, PrEP awareness) linkage to care/prevention.

Aim 2. Design, component test (N=20) and pre-pilot (N=20) the 4-session intervention. Here, modified intervention adaptation and design will be used to combine core components of efficacious HST interventions for FSW with novel ones to address self-stigma and anticipated stigma coping, as well as advocacy and peer-based linkage facilitators, using stigma, advocacy, and empowerment theoretical approaches.

Aim 3. Aim 3. Assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the intervention in increasing HIV testing and linkage to care (if positive) or biomedical uptake intention (if negative). To achieve this aim, the study will randomize 90 HIV-negative FSWID to a 4-session experimental arm or a time- and attention-controlled standard HIV test/risk reduction counseling arm and follow them for 6 months. Primary outcomes are: 1) past 3-month testing; 2) frequent testing (2+ test over 6 mos.); 3) linkage to HIV care and ART initiation, if positive; and 3) intention to uptake PrEP if negative. Secondary outcomes will include incident, biologically-confirmed STIs and stigma-related factors.

The pilot RCT will be conducted in partnership with Amelia, a non-profit, FSW advocacy organization, and KSCDID, which leads national HIV treatment/prevention strategy. The study builds on GHRCCA's decade-long success in designing and testing HIV behavior change interventions in Kazakhstan, significant regional research infrastructure, providing economies in execution. The results of this study, which is unique in linking HST with stigma-reduction approaches, will inform the submission of an R01 application and will have implications for research with FSW and PWID globally and in the United States.