Microeconomic Intervention to Reduce HIV Transmission in Economically Disadvantaged Transgender Women

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this research study is to learn more about the economic situations, discrimination experiences, and risk behaviors of transgender women. The ultimate purpose of the study is to test an intervention to improve financial conditions and reduce HIV risk behaviors in transgender women.

Detailed Description
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The study includes a microeconomic intervention which will provide education on a variety of economic and behavioral topics. Participants will complete questionnaires on multiple occasions during the study.

Official Title
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Microeconomic Intervention to Reduce HIV Transmission in Economically Disadvantaged Transgender Women

Conditions
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Hiv, Transgenderism

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Microeconomic Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Transgender woman 18-45 years of age At least one of the following economic vulnerability factors: unemployment or underemployment [less than 20 hours/week], low income [less than the Medicaid poverty threshold], housing insecurity in the past year or food insecurity in the past year • Behavioral vulnerability to HIV transmission (reported at least one episode of unprotected sex in prior 6 months or at least one other behavioral HIV transmission risk factor in the past 6 months: [transactional sex, multiple sexual partners, 1-time sexual partner, sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol, sex with partner of unknown HIV status). Exclusion Criteria: obvious signs of intoxication or cognitive impairment cannot speak English.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Microeconomic intervention<br> | Behavioral: Microeconomic Intervention<br>* The intervention will consist of six sessions on six different days. Sessions will be held at VCU or at one of VCU's community partners. Each session will last for around 2 ½ hours (around 15 hours total). There will be breaks and food will be provided. During the sessions the facilitators will provide education on a variety of topics, including economic services that are available to people living in Richmond, job skills (such as creating a resume and dealing with discrimination at work), personal finance education, gender transition ideas, and HIV prevention. The sessions will occur in a group of about 4-10 transgender women.<br>|
| No Intervention: Waitlisted control<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Employment Status | Number of participants whose status with respect to employment improves after the intervention. | Baseline to up to 9 months | 
| Change in Income | Number of participants whose income increases after the intervention. | Baseline to up to 9 months | 
| Change in Housing Stability | Number of participants whose access to stable permanent housing improves after the intervention. | Baseline to up to 9 months | 
| Change in Savings | Number of participants whose savings increase after the intervention. | Baseline to up to 9 months | 
| Change in Self Reported HIV Risk Behavior | Number of participants whose self-reports of behaviors known to increase risk for HIV goes down after the intervention. | Baseline to up to 9 months | 
| Change in Compliance With Recommended Biomedical Prevention or Treatment | Number of participants who demonstrate higher compliance with recommended biomedical prevention or treatment behaviors after the intervention. | Baseline to up to 9 months |