# Integration of buprenorphine into a multi-component harm reduction program fro people who inject drugs in Kampala, Uganda

> **NIH NIH R34** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2022 · $184,221

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Since 2008, countries in Sub Saharan Africa have seen rapid increases in injection drug use including injection
of heroin and cocaine [1-11] resulting in high prevalence of HIV and HCV infection, particularly in Tanzania and
Kenya [1, 12, 13]. Uganda also has seen an increase in people who inject drugs [14-16] with recent estimates
at approximately 4000 in Kampala [17]. HIV prevalence among PWID in Uganda is estimated to be around
17% in multiple studies [14, 17], with heroin being the most commonly injected drug. Despite the serious risk,
interventions to reduce the harms associated with injection drug use and drug related sexual risk are just
beginning to be developed and implemented in the region. Most researchers argue that a combination of
approaches are needed to reduce HIV infection among PWID including: provision of clean syringes through
syringe exchange programs (SEPs); frequent HIV testing and linkage to HIV care; antiretroviral therapy
initiation after infection to reduce risk of onward transmission through viral suppression; medication assisted
therapy; psychosocial support and pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis [22-24]. In the proposed application,
we will collaborate with the Uganda Harm Reduction Network and Makerere University School of Public Health
to develop, refine and pilot for feasibility and acceptability a combination HIV prevention intervention for PWID
in two harm reduction Drop In Centers (DICs) in Kampala. We will use implementation science methods, the
Consolidated Framework for Intervention Research (CFIR), to develop the intervention so that it can be
feasibly implemented and sustained using the resources in DICs. The intervention will use social network
HIV/HCV testing to bring PWID into the DICs. Participants will be given a small stipend for receiving HIV and
HCV testing, and those who inject heroin will be offered naloxone, buprenorphine, a self-directed computer-
based drug treatment program, CBT4CBT, and will complete a short interview to identify other PWID and
receive coupons to recruit them for HIV/HCV testing. Participants will also be offered an array of services
already offered in the DICs including syringes and other safe injection supplies, PrEP, and condoms. Finally,
those who are HIV positive will be assigned a peer navigator who will link them into care and ensure continued
attendance to HIV clinics and ART adherence. Specific aims of the proposed project include the following: 1)
To develop a combination HIV prevention intervention for PWID in Kampala Uganda, using the Consolidated
Framework for Intervention Research; 2) To refine the intervention through implementation cycles using the
CFIR framework to identify barriers and find solutions to implementation and scale-up; 3) To assess feasibility,
acceptability and initial promise of the intervention with a 6-month pilot test. We will collect quantitative
implementation outcomes including the numbers of people tested for HIV/HCV, uptake o...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10412014
- **Project number:** 5R34DA052178-03
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Julia B Dickson-Gomez
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $184,221
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10412014

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10412014, Integration of buprenorphine into a multi-component harm reduction program fro people who inject drugs in Kampala, Uganda (5R34DA052178-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10412014. Licensed CC0.

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