Site-randomized Trial of an Expanded Social Network Recruitment to HIV Testing (E-SNRHT) Intervention to Locate Undiagnosed Cases and Reduce HIV-related Stigma

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · Feb 26, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new approach to help find people who may have undiagnosed HIV and encourage them to get tested. In South Africa, many men are hesitant to get tested because of feelings of stigma and blame associated with HIV. The trial will use a method called Expanded Social Network Recruitment to HIV Testing (E-SNRHT), where individuals who have recently been diagnosed with HIV (called "seeds") can invite friends, family, or anyone they know to get tested. This approach aims to reduce the stigma around testing and make it easier for more people to participate, especially those who may not have been tested before or who have avoided testing.

To be eligible for the trial, participants need to be at least 18 years old, live in the Msunduzi region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and be able to understand and consent to the study in English or isiZulu. If someone is newly diagnosed with HIV and receives a special coupon from a clinic, they can become a "seed" and help recruit others. Participants can expect to take part in discussions about HIV, receive support, and help others get tested while also addressing the stigma around the disease. The trial is important because it aims to improve HIV testing rates and support systems within communities.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • "Seeds" (i.e., initial participants in both study arms) will be recruited via referrals from clinics' standard of care HIV testing. To be eligible, seeds must have received a new HIV diagnosis from a study clinic in the last 2 months (i.e., they must be newly diagnosed with HIV infection \[NDH\]), and must have been given a study recruitment coupon by staff at one of these clinics. They will also be screened to ensure that they meet the following additional eligibility criteria: are ≥ 18 years old, are able to be interviewed in English or isiZulu (since over 95% of the population in the Msunduzi region speaks one or both of these languages), are able to give informed consent, and indicate that they reside in the Msunduzi region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
• • Seeds in the intervention arm (i.e., recruited from intervention condition-assigned clinics) will be asked to recruit their expanded social network members who they think would benefit from testing for HIV. Network members will be eligible to participate if they have a recruitment coupon given to them by a study participant (i.e., if they were recruited by an intervention arm participant); are ≥ 18 years old; able to be interviewed in English or isiZulu; able to give informed consent; and reside in the Msunduzi region.
• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Has study recruitment coupon (from clinic or from intervention arm participant)
• • Is ≥ 18 years old
• • Is able to be interviewed in English or isiZulu
• • Is able to give informed consent
• • Resides in the Msunduzi region
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Does not have study recruitment coupon (from clinic or from intervention arm participant)
• • Is \< 18 years old
• • Is not able to be interviewed in English or isiZulu
• • Is not able to give informed consent
• • Does not reside in the Msunduzi region