RTI uses cookies to offer you the best experience online. By clicking “accept” on this website, you opt in and you agree to the use of cookies. If you would like to know more about how RTI uses cookies and how to manage them please view our Privacy Policy here. You can “opt out” or change your mind by visiting: http://optout.aboutads.info/. Click “accept” to agree.
Suicide assessment and feasible evidence-based treatments for adolescents living with HIV in Malawi
Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Stockton, M. A., Waddell, K., Mphonda, S. M., Bhushan, N. L., January, J., Masulani, C., Brown, G., Udedi, M. M., Pence, B. W., Chiwanda, J., Gaynes, B. N., & Kulisewa, K. (2025). Suicide assessment and feasible evidence-based treatments for adolescents living with HIV in Malawi: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial. PLoS One, 20(9), e0330847. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0330847
BACKGROUND: This pilot trial will investigate the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and preliminary efficacy of a combined youth-friendly suicide prevention and problem-solving intervention in reducing suicidal ideation and behaviors in adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) in Malawi.
METHODS: ALWH (N = 60) aged 13-19 who reported suicidal ideation and behaviors will be recruited from 5 health clinics. Participants will be randomized 1:1 either to the Safety Planning and Friendship Bench (SP + FB) (n = 30) or to augmented usual care (n = 30) and followed for 6 months. SP + FB includes 6 individual counseling sessions and 6 bi-monthly peer support group sessions delivered by psychological counselors. Feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and preliminary efficacy will be assessed at 6-weeks and 3- and 6-month study visits and compared across the 2 study arms.
DISCUSSION: The results of this study will provide insights into the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and preliminary efficacy of the combined SP + FB for reducing chronic and acute suicidality in ALWH compared to standard of care. This pilot study will lay the groundwork to test the SP + FB in a large-scale cluster randomized controlled trial to improve suicide prevention resources and interventions for ALWH in Malawi. The findings of the study will add to a critical body of research aiming to implement feasible, acceptable, and effective suicide prevention interventions as part of adolescent HIV care in low-resource settings.
RTI shares its evidence-based research - through peer-reviewed publications and media - to ensure that it is accessible for others to build on, in line with our mission and scientific standards.