Incentives to Promote Sustained Linkage to HIV Care
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV/AIDS
About this trial
This is an interventional screening trial for Human Immunodeficiency Virus focused on measuring HIV self-testing, Behavioral sciences, Financial incentives, Viral suppression
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Reported HIV positive
- Have a personal and/or valid phone number, that will remain active for 6 months
- Have a phone with WhatsApp, or text message feature
- Understand the Informed Consent form
Exclusion Criteria:
- Unwilling to provide informed consent
- Any condition which would make the participant unsuitable or unsafe for enrollment, i.e. being unable to see or read by forgetting to bring reading glasses, being intoxicated or acute sickness
Sites / Locations
- Ezintsha Clinical Research Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
No Intervention
Experimental
Experimental: Usual care
Experimental: Incentives and linkage promotion
Participants randomized to this arm will receive the standard of care (SOC) following the STAR program protocol in various sites in Johannesburg. This will include provision of an HIV self-screening test kit, the standard linkage officer follow-up call following report of a positive HIVSS test and an invitation to i) participate in study visit 1 to have their positive HIVSS result confirmed and complete blood collection for viral load PCR testing and to ii) participate in study visit 2 at 6 months for Viral Load PCR. Individuals with a positive HIV test result from another Ezintsha study or an affiliated clinic will also be invited to participate in study visit 1 for baseline viral load PCR testing.
Participants randomized to this arm will receive the same standard HIV self-screen test kit and linkage officer follow-up call including the invitation to i) participate in study visit 1 and ii) study visit 2. In addition, they will receive a financial incentive if they complete a confirmatory HIV test at visit 1 and if they demonstrate viral suppression at study visit 2, approximately 6 months after positive HIVSS result. They will also receive monthly reminders and incentives to pick up HIV medication. Individuals with a positive HIV test result from another Ezintsha study or an affiliated clinic will also be invited to participate in study visit 1 for baseline viral load PCR testing.