Overview
The goal of this trial is to test a modified mobile health intervention (with a group component) relative to a mobile health intervention in a two-arm randomized trial with 500 young African American women who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative and who misuse alcohol.
The expected outcomes are to: (1) determine the efficacy of the virtual group component in reducing alcohol use and sexual risk and increasing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) utilization; and (2) understand selected outcomes for implementation.
Participants will be randomized to receive either the mHealth app or the mHealth app plus the group component, and followed up at 3- and 6-months post-enrollment.
Description
A total of 500 participants who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative who engage in heavy alcohol use will be enrolled and referred to their local health departments for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Primary biobehavioral outcomes assessed will include reduced alcohol use (self-reported and biological, including phosphatidylethanol \[PEth\]), increased PrEP uptake (self-reported and biological), and reduced sexual risk (self-reported condomless sex and impaired sex and biological testing for HIV) at 3- and 6-month follow-up.
Eligibility
Selected Inclusion Criteria:
- identify as Black/African American
- identify as female
- be between 18 and 30 years old
- recent substance use
- HIV negative and not currently on PrEP
- have an Android or iOS-based smartphone
Selected Exclusion Criteria:
- test positive for HIV
- participated in the previous study activities of the current study or previous related studies


