Peer Delivered HIV/Syphilis Self-Testing With Assisted Partner Notification Services

Launched by MAKERERE UNIVERSITY · Jan 23, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study, called PEER, is testing whether letting trained peers from the MSM community give out HIV and syphilis self-testing kits and help with notifying partners is feasible, acceptable, and potentially more effective than just sending people to a clinic. It’s a phase 2, randomized trial in Kampala and Wakiso, Uganda, where 20 peers will deliver the self-tests or provide clinic-based testing as a comparison. The researchers will look at how many people use the tests, how well people are linked to care after testing, how acceptable the approach is, and what it costs.

If you are eligible, you would be an adult man who identifies as MSM, has had anal sex in the last quarter, and has not tested for HIV or syphilis in the past three months (or has never tested). About 200 participants total are expected. In the intervention group, you’d receive up to ten self-test kits (five for HIV and five for syphilis) to share with partners and friends, plus help linking anyone who tests positive to confirmatory testing and care. In the control group, you’d receive invitation letters to fast-track testing at a health facility, along with free HIV/syphilis testing, condoms, and peer support. All participants would have access to follow-up support via a toll-free line and a WhatsApp chat, and researchers will collect information on test uptake, care linkage, and overall acceptability. The study began recruitment in 2024 and aims to complete primary results by 2026, with overall completion around 2028.

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion Criteria:In both arms, peers will recruit network members who are
• • aged 18 years and older,
• • Self-report of anal sexual intercourse at least once in the prior quarter
• • self-identify as MSM,
• • not tested in the past three months or never tested for HIV or syphilis before;
• • willing to provide informed consent;
• • willing to undergo study procedures
• • Exclusion Criteria:We will exclude participants
• • Participants who already know that they have HIV and those who are on treatment for syphilis
• • Those enrolled in other HIV prevention trial
• • We shall exclude participants who don't speak English and Luganda