Inflammation, Social Networks, and Depression in Rural Uganda (HopeNet)
Sponsor: NIH, Paiko Foundation. Investigators: Mr. Bernard Kakuhikire, Dr. Alexander Tsai, Jessica Perkins, Alison Comfort
Synopsis of the Study: This study, formerly titled, “Health Outcomes, Progressive Entrepreneurship, and Networks” is a longitudinal, population-based study that aims to measure the health, economic, and social impacts of clean water and microenterprise interventions at the individual, household, and social network levels in Nyakabare Parish, Rwampara District, Uganda. It targets approximately 1,900 adults for each biennial survey since 2012. A sub-component of the HopeNet study titled “Social Networks, HIV Stigma, and the HIV Care Cascade in Rural Uganda” aims to measure (a) the causal effects of injunctive norms on negative attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLWH), (b) the causal effect of HIV stigma on outcomes relevant to HIV prevention for persons known to be HIV-negative or of unknown serostatus and (c) estimate the causal effect of HIV stigma on outcomes relevant to HIV treatment for PLHIV. The longitudinal survey conducted biennially measures key socio-economic variables over time including economic status, water
and food security, self-reported physical and mental health, substance use, domestic violence, community norms, social networks, and collects biomarkers through biennial health fairs to supplement self-report survey data.
