Trial results for a study investigating social networks and treatment retention for HIV and opioid use disorder were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-10-08, with 58 participants enrolled.
Background
HIV infections require consistent adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for effective management and to prevent disease progression. Opioid-use disorder (OUD) can significantly complicate treatment adherence, posing a major challenge for individuals living with HIV. Interventions that leverage social support networks have shown promise in improving treatment retention and overall recovery for various conditions. This study aimed to adapt and evaluate a social network intervention to support individuals receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for OUD and antiretroviral therapy for HIV in Tanzania, focusing on improving retention in both treatments.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 58 participants in Tanzania. The trial investigated conditions including Opioid-use Disorder, Adherence, Medication, and HIV Infections. The intervention adapted the Brief Social Behaviour and Network Therapy (B-SBNT), which involves mapping clients' social networks, inviting network members to participate, building communication strategies, and developing support plans to facilitate recovery among people receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements related to intervention attendance and acceptability:
- For participants receiving supportive care through social support persons (MMT Clients), 20 participants attended the Week 1 intervention session.
- For social support persons, 28 participants attended the Week 1 intervention session.
- 20 MMT participants attended the Week 2 intervention session.
- 20 MMT participants attended the Week 3 intervention session.
- 25 social support persons attended the Week 3 intervention session.
- 20 MMT participants attended the Week 4 intervention session.
- 20 MMT participants attended the Week 5 intervention session.
- 25 social support persons attended the Week 5 intervention session.
- 20 MMT participants attended the Week 6 intervention session.
- 25 social support persons attended the Week 6 intervention session.
- 5 intervention counselors adhered to the intervention manual.
- 10 MMT clients found the intervention acceptable as assessed by the intervention feasibility interview.
A key analysis using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test reported a mean difference (Final Values) of 7.9, with a p-value of 0.0094.
What this means
The results indicate that the adapted social network intervention demonstrated statistically significant findings, with a mean difference of 7.9 and a p-value of 0.0094 in final values. The consistent attendance rates for both MMT clients and their social support persons across the six-week intervention period, along with reported acceptability from MMT clients, suggest the intervention's feasibility and potential effectiveness in supporting treatment retention for individuals with HIV and opioid use disorder in Tanzania. These findings highlight the importance of social networks in improving health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT04479475, titled "Social Networks and Methadone Maintenance Treatment Retention and Antiretroviral Therapy Retention in Tanzania", were posted on 2025-10-08 on clinicaltrials.gov.