Acceptability, Feasibility and Impact of Oral HIV Self-testing for Partner Testing Among Kenyan Adolescent Girls Aged 15-19 Years: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Human Immunodeficiency Virus focused on measuring HIV self-testing, partner testing, couples testing, transactional sex, young women, adolescent girls, female sex workers
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Female
- Aged 15-19 years
- HIV-negative (willing to self-test onsite in the presence of the Research Assistant who is also a trained HIV counselor)
- Has at least one current sexual partner she expects to meet at least twice in the next 3 months (not necessarily to have sex); this will provide opportunity for the participant to suggest/offer testing.
- Resides in Siaya County and does not intend to relocate within 6 months from enrollment, to allow follow up to be completed and to conduct IDI with those selected.
- Willing to be randomized into the partner self-testing or HTS referral groups.
- Reporting no incident of sexual, physical, emotional, or economic abuse in the last 12 months from the partner she intends to offer (Appendix 4) or refer for testing (Appendix 3) in the next 3 months and does not believe the partner will abuse her if she offers the self-test kits or HTS referral coupon.
- Has a male partner who has not tested for 6 months or whose HIV status is unknown to her.
- Agrees to give consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Male
- HIV-positive
- Not willing to self-test onsite under in the presence of the Research Assistant
- Aged <15 years or >19 years
- Does not have a current sexual partner or does not expect to meet the partner at least twice in the next 3 months
- Does not reside in Siaya County or intends to relocate within the next 6 months
- Not interested in obtaining HIV self-tests or HTS referral coupon for purposes of suggesting testing to their sexual partners
- Reporting an incidence of sexual, physical, emotional or economic abuse in the last 12 months from the partner she would have offered self-test kit or referred for testing, or believes the partner may subject her to sexual, physical, emotional, or economic abuse if she offered them self-test kit or HTS coupon.
- Has a male partner who tested within the last 6 months.
- Does not give consent to participate in the study
Sites / Locations
- Impact Research & Development Organization
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Provision of multiple self-tests
Referral vouchers for clinic testing
Participants randomized to the intervention group will be given 2-3 HIV oral self-tests to offer to their sexual partner(s). The participant will be instructed to encourage their partner to test himself alone [partner testing] or with the participant [couple testing]; the partner will also be given a card with information on testing and a list of facilities where he can go for confirmatory testing. All participants will be encouraged to call a study helpline/hotline in the event of any adverse events that they or their sexual partners experience or if they need further instructions or information
Participants randomized to the control group will be given multiple referral coupons for HIV testing at pre-selected HIV testing services (HTS) sites. The participant will be instructed to give the coupon to their sexual partner(s) and encourage him to go for HIV testing at pre-selected HTS sites, either alone [partner testing] or together with the participant [couple testing]. The coupon will also have information on testing and a list of facilities where he can go for HTS. All participants will be encouraged to call a study helpline/hotline in the event of any adverse events that they or their sexual partners experience or if they need further instructions or information