Efficacy of HIV Post-Test Support for ANC in South Africa (SAHAPS)
HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for HIV focused on measuring HIV, AIDS
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Eligible women:
- are at least 18 years old,
- are not pregnant,
- have never tested for HIV or had most recently tested negative for HIV at least 3 months prior to recruitment,
- report having a primary partner who they have been with for at least 6 months,
- plan to live in Durban for at least the next year,
- plan to take their infant to the clinic for immunization visits,
- are able to communicate in English or Zulu, and
- do not need critical care for a high risk pregnancy that clinic staff is unable to provide.
Exclusion Criteria: Women are ineligible if they:
- are younger than 18 years;
- are not pregnant;
- have previously tested positive for HIV;
- do not have a primary partner defined as someone they have been with for at least 6 months;
- are not planning to reside in Durban for the next one year;
- are unable to communicate in English or Zulu;
- require care for high risk pregnancy that can not be provided by the clinic staff.
Sites / Locations
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Enhanced Counseling
Standard of Care
Women in the intervention arm receive: (1) a standardized health education video before HIV pre-test counseling; (2) HIV pre- and post-test counseling sessions that prepare women for decisions related to testing, serostatus disclosure and anti-retroviral (ARV) prophylaxis and help women plan strategies for sexual risk behavior change; (3) two additional post-test counseling sessions postpartum focused on legal education and referral, partner testing, sexual risk behavior change and family planning decisions and; (4) an active referral system to post-test support groups run by a clinically trained staff psychologist and (5) an active referral system to legal services run by a lawyer at the clinic.
Women in the control arm receive the standard of care in terms of HIV counseling and testing during pregnancy. The standard of care for HIV counseling adheres to guidelines provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Women receive one individual pre-test counseling session immediately before they are tested for HIV, and one individual post-test counseling session the same day that they are tested.