Improving HIV Testing, Linkage, and Retention in Care for Men Through U=U Messaging
Status: Recruiting
Location: See all (2) locations...
Intervention Type: Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY
This study will evaluate the impact of U=U messaging and counseling on gaps in the HIV care cascade for men, including testing uptake and ART initiation (Aim 1), achieving viral suppression and retention in care (Aim 2) in two provinces in South Africa. The U=U message communicates the compelling idea that PLHIV who take ART and have an undetectable viral load (\<200 copies/mL) cannot sexually transmit HIV. Additionally, the investigators will conduct a multi-method evaluation to inform future implementation of U=U messaging interventions (Aim 3).
Participation Requirements⁃ AIM 1:
• male
• aged ≥15 years
• present a study issued invitation card to site receptionist
• ability to provide informed consent.
⁃ AIM 2:
• cis-gender men
• aged ≥15 years
• newly initiating ART (i.e., treatment naïve) or re-initiating ART after 6 months of being lost-to-care
• live in Buffalo City or Cape Town Metro Health Districts
• provide written informed consent
Cape Town Metro
RECRUITING
Cape Town
Buffalo City Metro
RECRUITING
East London
Primary
Andrew Medina-Marino, PhD
Andrew.Marino@hiv-research.org.za
+27 87 821 1109
Start Date: 2023-03-31
Estimated Completion Date: 2027-05-31
Target number of participants: 3642
Experimental: U=U testing messaging scripts
Aim 1: Human-centred designed, behavioural nudge theory informed U=U messaging intervention to improve HIV testing uptake by men
Experimental: U=U adherence messaging scripts
Aim 2: Human-centred designed, behavioural nudge theory informed U=U messaging intervention to improve ART adherence, HIV viral suppression and retention in care
No_intervention: Standard of Care (SoC) messaging
Aim 1: SoC messaging scripts will be used to both invite men for CB-HTS and to refer those that test HIV-positive for DoH clinic-based ART initiation~Aim 2: SoC messaging as part of ART initiation counselling, and as part of their HIV care and treatment program
Leads: Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation
Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), University of Pennsylvania