Improving HIV Testing, Linkage, and Retention in Care for Men Through U=U Messaging
Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation
3,642 participants
Mar 31, 2023
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
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).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria11
- 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
Interventions
On site testing days randomized to the intervention, trained health promoters employed by the mobile testing venues will use U=U messaging scripts to invite men in the vicinity to seek HIV testing services on that day. On intervention days, the U=U messaging will also be used by counselors at the testing venue when referring those who test HIV positive to clinic-based ART initiation services provided by the local Department of Health
After receiving standard ART initiation and adherence counselling from a DoH clinic nurse per South African National Guidelines, RCs will deliver a U=U message and hand participants a small business card with a brief U=U message on it. Participants will then receive monthly SMS booster messages (but can opt out) and monthly in-clinic booster messages during routine medical refill visits, again with a business card for messaging reinforcement.
Locations(2)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT05602376