Suubi4Her

Principal Investigator: Fred M. Ssewamala, PhD

Project Team Members: Mary McKay, PhD; Claude Mellins, PhD (Columbia University); Irwin Garfinkel, PhD (Columbia University); Proscovia Nabunya, PhD; Torsten Neilands, PhD (University of California – San Francisco); Ozge Sensoy Bahar, PhD 

Field Coordinator: Flavia Namuwonge 

Research Collaborators: Abel Mwebembezi (Reach the Youth-Uganda), Fr. Kato Bakulu (Masaka Diocese), Gertrude Nakigozi (Rakai Health Sciences Program)

Suubi4Her is longitudinal study (2017-2023) funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). It examines the impact and cost associated with Suubi (hope) for Girls (hereafter, Suubi4Her), which is an innovative combination intervention that aims to prevent HIV risk behavior in communities heavily affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS in Southern Uganda. This is done through economic empowerment and promotion of behavioral health. This study combines two evidence-based approaches:

1. a youth monetary savings program that supports adolescent girls in secondary school education and family small-business/microenterprises development

2. a 16 session manualized MFG intervention that strengthens family relationships to address mental health challenges which frequently accompany adolescent girls’ transition to adulthood.

mHealth Component

This study seeks to examine access and utilization of mobile phones (technology) and acceptability of mhealth interventions among adolescent girls. Specifically, the study assesses behavioral health and psychosocial functioning, cell phone access, as well as beliefs and attitudes about tobacco, alcohol, substance use, sexual decision-making, and HIV-risk factors.

Qualitative Component

With this additional support, the team will qualitatively examine participants’ experiences with the intervention and explore multi-level factors that may have impacted participants’ observable behaviors and decision-making in regards to savings, mental health, and sexual risk-taking. The team will also interview the multiple family group facilitators and school head teachers in treatment schools to examine factors that may influence system-level sustainability.

Diversity Supplement

This administrative supplement will assess the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and attitudes on HIV testing behavior and adherence among the study participants. The study findings will enrich extant literature about the attitudes and perceptions of adolescent girls (an HIV vulnerable population) towards ART and provide insight which will be useful in informing the development of interventions, diagnosis, treatment and management of HIV, including adherence to ART.