The project "Scaling up Brief Alcohol Intervention for HIV Prevention in Vietnam: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial," sponsored by The University of North Carolina (UNC), has been officially approved by the Hai Phong People's Committee (Decision No. 238/QD-UBND).
UNC is licensed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to operate in Vietnam and has extended its scope to Hai Phong (Operation Registration No. 100/CNV-VPDA, valid until May 25, 2027). Its activities focus on public health support, community healthcare, and research on tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Since being authorized to operate in Hai Phong in 2023, UNC has received approval from the Hai Phong People’s Committee in 2024 to implement the project with a total funding value of 441,490,000 VND (approximately 18,433.05 USD).
Project Objectives
The project aims to compare the implementation of Brief Alcohol Intervention (BAI) at two groups of HIV/AIDS treatment facilities in Vietnam: one group providing BAI support for people living with HIV and the other group providing BAI support for both people living with HIV and healthcare workers. It will identify mechanisms for successfully scaling up interventions at these treatment facilities and measure the impact of reduced alcohol consumption interventions on healthcare workers in HIV/AIDS treatment settings.
Pre-Implementation Activities
Before implementation, UNC will assess the characteristics of participating facilities to gather initial information about their HIV counseling and treatment services, the number of healthcare workers in HIV/AIDS treatment facilities, and the number of HIV patients currently under treatment. The project will also map out factors affecting intervention implementation, define targets, develop strategies to address identified challenges, and build a matrix connecting objectives, influencing factors, and strategies. Outputs such as compliance levels, acceptance rates, program participation, and costs will be evaluated. Additionally, UNC will tailor the BAI intervention program for healthcare workers and test tools like quantitative questionnaires for participants with HIV.
Key Project Activities
- Training: Up to 8 staff members from 2 HIV/AIDS treatment facilities (4 staff per facility) will be trained on project processes and providing BAI interventions for people living with HIV undergoing ARV treatment.
- Participant Recruitment: All HIV-positive individuals undergoing ARV treatment at participating facilities will be screened using the AUDIT-C tool. Those meeting eligibility criteria (AUDIT-C score ≥4 for men or ≥3 for women) will be invited to join the project and receive BAI. Additionally, an average of 4 healthcare workers per facility will be invited to participate, focusing on identifying mechanisms for scaling up interventions and measuring the impact of reduced alcohol use interventions on healthcare workers.
- Intervention Delivery: The intervention consists of 2 in-person counseling sessions (45 minutes each, one month apart) and 2 follow-up phone counseling sessions (10–15 minutes each, conducted 2–3 weeks after each in-person session). All interventions for HIV-positive participants will be conducted by trained facility staff, while UNC advisors will provide BAI interventions for healthcare workers.
- Follow-Up: Regular monitoring of HIV-positive participants will be conducted throughout the project.
Significance of the Project
The project's objectives and activities are vital in contributing to Vietnam's National Strategy to End AIDS by 2030. The strategy focuses on intensifying HIV/AIDS prevention efforts to reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, aiming to end the AIDS epidemic in Vietnam by 2030. This includes managing factors affecting treatment outcomes, particularly alcohol consumption among HIV-positive individuals undergoing treatment in Hai Phong.
By addressing alcohol use and other related factors, the project supports the goal of mitigating the socioeconomic impacts of HIV/AIDS and contributes to a healthier, more sustainable community.