Secondary Distribution of HIV Self-tests: an Innovative Strategy for Promoting Partner Testing and Reducing HIV Risk
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Human Immunodeficiency Virus focused on measuring HIV self-testing, female sex workers, partner testing, couples testing, transactional sex
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- At least 18 years old
- Currently resides in the study area
- Has resided in the study area for at least 6 months in the year prior to enrollment
- Intends to stay in the study area for at least 24 months
- Reports two or more sexual partners within the past 4 weeks at time of screening
- HIV negative
- Ownership or access to a mobile phone
- Willing and able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Younger than 18 years old
- Does not currently live in the study area or has not for 6 of the last 12 months, or does not plan to for at least the next 24 months
- Fewer than two sexual partners in the last four weeks at time of screening
- HIV positive
- Has no access to a mobile phone
- Enrolled in another HIV prevention study
Cannot or will not provide informed consent
- Males will self-select to participate by contacting the study staff using the information provided by willing index participants. There are no inclusion or exclusion criteria for the men who select to participate.
Sites / Locations
- Impact Research and Development Organization
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Provision of multiple self-tests
Referral vouchers for VCT
Participants in intervention clusters will be given multiple HIV self-test kits, testing instructions, and advice to use their discretion when offering self-tests to selected sexual partners. Participants will be encouraged to offer self-tests primarily to current and potential partners with whom unprotected sex is likely. All participants will be encouraged to use condoms with sexual partners. Participants will also be advised to assess the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a result of offering self-tests to partners. Participants will have opportunities to obtain additional HIV self-test kits on a monthly basis.
Participants will be given a multiple referral vouchers for HIV testing to distribute to their sexual partners. All participants will be encouraged to use condoms with sexual partners. These referral vouchers will encourage the partners to seek HIV counseling & testing services in local clinics. Participants will also be advised to assess the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a result of offering referral vouchers to partners. Participants will have opportunities to obtain additional referral vouchers on a monthly basis.