Health Technology/clinical-trials

Novel mHealth Intervention Targets HIV Prevention and Stigma Among Transgender Women — EMPOW.HER Trial Opens in Thailand

247 Health News Editorial

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6 Apr 2026

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4 min read

·clinical-trials

The EMPOW.HER trial in Thailand is testing innovative mobile health interventions to reduce HIV-related stigma and improve PrEP uptake among young transgender women. This groundbreaking study combines digital platforms targeting both prevention education and stigma reduction in a population facing disproportionate HIV risks.

Originally reported by ClinicalTrials.gov

References

  1. 1.Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations. (2023). HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: Annual surveillance report 2023. AFAO. https://www.afao.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AFAO-ASR2023-FINAL.pdf
  2. 2.Baral, S. D., Poteat, T., Strömdahl, S., Wirtz, A. L., Guadamuz, T. E., & Beyrer, C. (2013). Worldwide burden of HIV in transgender women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13(3), 214-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(12)70315-8
  3. 3.Earnshaw, V. A., & Chaudoir, S. R. (2009). From conceptualizing to measuring HIV stigma: a review of HIV stigma mechanism measures. AIDS and Behavior, 13(6), 1160-1177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9593-3
  4. 4.Grant, R. M., Lama, J. R., Anderson, P. L., McMahan, V., Liu, A. Y., Vargas, L., ... & Glidden, D. V. (2010). Preexposure chemoprophylaxis for HIV prevention in men who have sex with men. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(27), 2587-2599. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1011205
  5. 5.Guadamuz, T. E., Wimonsate, W., Varangrat, A., Phanuphak, P., Jommaroeng, R., McNicholl, J. M., ... & van Griensven, F. (2011). HIV prevalence, risk behavior, hormone use and surgical history among transgender persons in Thailand. AIDS and Behavior, 15(3), 650-658. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9850-5
  6. 6.Institute of HIV Research and Innovation Foundation. (2024). Evaluation of mHealth Intervention to Promote HIV Prevention and Overcome Stigma Among Transgender Women (EMPOW.HER). ClinicalTrials.gov. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07509827
  7. 7.Reisner, S. L., Radix, A., & Deutsch, M. B. (2016). Integrated and gender-affirming transgender clinical care and research. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 72(Suppl 3), S235-S242. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000001088
  8. 8.Sevelius, J. M., Keatley, J., Calma, N., & Arnold, E. (2016). 'I am not a man': Trans-specific barriers and facilitators to PrEP acceptability among transgender women. Global Public Health, 11(7-8), 1060-1075. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2016.1154085
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247 Health News Editorial

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