# An economic and relationship-strengthening intervention for HIV-affected couples who drink alcohol in Malawi - Administrative Supplement

> **NIH NIH R34** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2022 · $81,573

## Abstract

Administrative Supplement Project Summary/Abstract
Heavy alcohol use has deleterious effects on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and HIV clinical
outcomes, and indirectly affects health by damaging the couple relationships needed for social support,
economic survival, and well-being. Yet, there are currently no interventions that have jointly addressed the
economic and relationship context of drinking in sub-Saharan Africa. The overall goal of the Mlambe study
(R34-AA027983) is to develop and pilot test a combined economic and relationship-strengthening intervention
to redirect funds spent on alcohol into financial investments (e.g., education, income-generating business) and
to improve couple relationships and adherence to ART. The specific aims are: (1) to adapt and integrate two
proven interventions, Suubi and Uthando Lwethu, into a combined intervention for HIV-affected couples with a
heavy alcohol user (Mlambe); (2) to develop and pilot test the study procedures to evaluate Mlambe; and (3) to
assess the feasibility and acceptability of Mlambe. We have completed the intervention development phase
(aim 1) and have enrolled couples for the pilot trial (aim 2), which is currently underway. Remaining activities
include completing all intervention sessions, conducting 10-month and 15-month follow-up visits, conducting
exit interviews with a subset of 20 couples, and evaluating feasibility and acceptability. We are requesting
supplemental funding to carry out the original goals of the project given the financial hardships we have
experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and unanticipated increases in expenses in Malawi due to
inflation. No new activities are proposed. Specifically, funds will be used to provide salaries for staff in Malawi
with appropriate cost-of-living adjustments, allowing us to complete the intervention sessions and follow-up
visits. We also seek funds to cover the rise in fuel and transport expenses in Malawi, which is essential for our
team to travel to clinical sites and rural areas to track participants, and for transport reimbursements for
participants to attend study visits. Finally, supplemental funds will also be used to support the Mlambe project
coordinator, principal investigator, and a data analyst to effectively complete the remaining research activities
of our original proposal. We have been very successful thus far with enrolling the sample, maintaining high
participation rates and retention rates, and couples have reported high satisfaction with intervention sessions.
Thus, the Mlambe intervention has shown great promise thus far as being feasible and acceptable, with the
potential to reduce heavy alcohol use, household poverty, and non-adherence to ART among couples living
with HIV in Malawi. The administrative funds will allow us to maintain the highest level of rigor by retaining staff
who have built rapport with couples and are proficient in the Mlambe intervention, and allow us to complete
fol...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10565577
- **Project number:** 3R34AA027983-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy Anne Conroy
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $81,573
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-08-15 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10565577

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10565577, An economic and relationship-strengthening intervention for HIV-affected couples who drink alcohol in Malawi - Administrative Supplement (3R34AA027983-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10565577. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*