Aegida Project – “Assessment of the intervention to develop HIV self-testing skills and reduce stigma among women at risk in Kazakhstan” (2021 – 2023)
This project Aegida, funded by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) of women engaged in commercial sex work and drug use in Kazakhstan. The project’s goal is to increase regular HIV testing, enable early detection of new HIV/STI cases, and reduce HIV stigma among at-risk women. The intervention aims to support HIV self-testing and stigma reduction, with a control arm focusing on HIV risk reduction and disease prevention. The project is being implemented in Almaty, supported by the Kazakh Scientific Center for Dermatology and Infectious Diseases, and the Center for AIDS Prevention and Control in Almaty.
Publications:
“Protected Means Armed”: Perspectives on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Women Who Engage in Sex Work and Use Drugs in Kazakhstan (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37843909/);
Preferences for an HIV Self-Testing Program Among Women who Engage in sex Work and use Drugs in Kazakhstan, Central Asia (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37426726/);
NOVA project – Evaluating a Microfinance Intervention for High Risk Women in Kazakhstan (2014 – 2019)
Project NOVA was a randomized control trial (RCT) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), focusing on women engaged in commercial sex work in Kazakhstan. The study assessed the effectiveness of a comprehensive microfinance intervention, including financial literacy and vocational training, against a control group receiving only the HIV risk reduction component. The intervention aimed to reduce new cases of HIV, STIs, and hepatitis C, as well as risks associated with sexual behavior and drug use among women in Almaty and Karaganda regions.
Publications:
Witte, S. S., Pala, A. N., Mukherjee, T. I., Yang, L. S., McCrimmon, T., Mergenova, G., … & El-Bassel, N. (2023). Reducing partner violence against women who exchange sex and use drugs through a combination microfinance and HIV risk reduction intervention: a cluster randomized trial. AIDS and behavior, 27(12), 4084-4093. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37389675/);
Vélez-Grau, C., El-Bassel, N., McCrimmon, T., Terlikbayeva, A., Primbetova, S., Mergenova, G., … & Witte, S. S. (2022). ‘I never hoped for anything… now I have other plans’: The role of microfinance in HIV intervention for women who use drugs and engage in sex work in Kazakhstan. International social work, 65(4), 663-677. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38031578/);
Mukherjee, T. I., Pala, A. N., Terlikbayeva, A., Davis, A., Howard, A. A., McCrimmon, T., … & El-Bassel, N. (2022). Social and structural determinants of health associated with police violence victimization: A latent class analysis of female sex workers who use drugs in Kazakhstan. International Journal of Drug Policy, 106, 103750. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35667193/);
Vélez-Grau, C., El-Bassel, N., McCrimmon, T., Chang, M., Terlikbayeva, A., Primbetova, S., … & Witte, S. S. (2021). Suicidal ideation among women who engage in sex work and have a history of drug use in Kazakhstan. Mental health & prevention, 23, 200208. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38031555/);
El‐Bassel, N., McCrimmon, T., Mergenova, G., Chang, M., Terlikbayeva, A., Primbetova, S., … & Witte, S. S. (2021). A cluster‐randomized controlled trial of a combination HIV risk reduction and microfinance intervention for female sex workers who use drugs in Kazakhstan. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 24(5), e25682. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33955170/);
Yang, L. S., Witte, S. S., Vélez-Grau, C., McCrimmon, T., Terlikbayeva, A., Primbetova, S., … & El-Bassel, N. (2021). The financial lives and capabilities of women engaged in sex work: Can paradoxical autonomy inform intervention strategies?. Global journal of health science, 13(6), 69. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37163144/).
GHRCCA is currently launching a four-year research project called “Improving access of vulnerable groups to HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment services in Kazakhstan” (BRIDGE project) in partnership with the Republican AIDS Center.
The aim of the study is to increase outreach to people who inject drugs (PWID) through HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services. The study will be conducted in the period of 2016-2020 in Almaty, as well as in Shymkent, Temirtau, and Karaganda. Under the study, surveys will be conducted and clinical and laboratory data will be collected. Research participants will be recited on the basis of Trust Points located at hospitals, regional/city AIDS centers, and non-governmental organizations.
“Identification of gender specifics of the quality of life of PLHIV, level of stigma and discrimination,social and medical needs in 5 regions of Kazakhstan”
The project is conducted by the Kazakhstan Network of Women Living with HIV with the technical support of The Global Health Research Center of Central Asia(GHRCCA) and funded by UNAIDS and UNIFEM. We will start this research in 5 different regions of Kazakhstan: Almaty, Taldykorgan (Almaty region), Pavlodar, Aksu (Pavlodar region), Temirtau and Karaganda (Karaganda region), Shymkent (South Kazakhstan region) and Ust-Kamenogorsk, Zyryanovsk (East Kazakhstan region). In general, 10 sites will take part in the collection of data for the project. The availability of such data will form the basis for future research and services to solve and improve some of the social and medical problems among PLHIV and will fight against stigma and discrimination.
Project NOVA was a randomized control trial (RCT) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), focusing on women engaged in commercial sex work in Kazakhstan. The study assessed the effectiveness of a comprehensive microfinance intervention, including financial literacy and vocational training, against a control group receiving only the HIV risk reduction component. The intervention aimed to reduce new cases of HIV, STIs, and hepatitis C, as well as risks associated with sexual behavior and drug use among women in Almaty and Karaganda regions.
GHRCCA is currently launching a four-year research project called “Improving access of vulnerable groups to HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment services in Kazakhstan” (BRIDGE project) in partnership with the Republican AIDS Center.
The project is conducted by the Kazakhstan Network of Women Living with HIV with the technical support of The Global Health Research Center of Central Asia(GHRCCA) and funded by UNAIDS and UNIFEM. We will start this research in 5 different regions of Kazakhstan: Almaty, Taldykorgan (Almaty region), Pavlodar, Aksu (Pavlodar region), Temirtau and Karaganda (Karaganda region), Shymkent (South Kazakhstan region) and Ust-Kamenogorsk, Zyryanovsk (East Kazakhstan region). In general, 10 sites will take part in the collection of data for the project. The availability of such data will form the basis for future research and services to solve and improve some of the social and medical problems among PLHIV and will fight against stigma and discrimination.