Community Popular Opinion Leader Intervention for HIV Prevention Uptake in Rural South Africa

ConditionsHIV Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)

Trial statusNot yet recruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age18-28

SponsorAfrica Health Research Institute

About this trial

The Community Popular Opinion Leader (CPOL) is an intervention dveloped in the United States which identifies, trains, and enlists key opinion leaders within communities to deliver messages to peers and help link them to services. This project involves testing the feasibility and acceptability of such a localized version of the CPOL intervention in rural South Africa. This will be achieved through a pilot intervention in three purposively selected communities in the Hlabisa sub-district of uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal. The investigators will select potential peer leaders in three ways (at random; based on nominations by peers; based on statistical analysis of previously collected social network data). Peer leaders will be invited to attend four weekly training sessions to learn about HIV prevention and persuasive communication. They will then be coached to start HIV prevention conversations with peers, including provision of HIV self-test kits and linkage to healthcare services. The investigators will evaluate this pilot using group discussions, in-depth interviews and brief pre/post questionnaires with session facilitators, peer leaders, contacted peers and healthcare providers. The investigators will analyse the data collected with the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) dissemination and implementation framework, identifying factors likely to affect Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM).

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Resident in Sixhumene study area household

Disqualifiers

Unable to provide informed consent

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

CPOL group training
Behavioral
Trained research assistants will deliver four two-hour training sessions to a group of \~20 young adults, leading to the trainees providing sexual health information and HIV self-tests (with onward self-referral to local clinics) to their friends and close contacts. Sessions include training on local sexual health information, effective communication strategies, practice conversations and feedback.

Treatment groups

60 Participants

are divided into 3 treatment groups

Group A: Random selectionExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Group B: NominationExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Group C: Network graph-basedExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Number of HIV self-tests distributed

The mean number of HIV self-tests distributed to peers by trainees

Time frame

From enrollment to 4 weeks after last training session

Secondary outcomes

Number of peer conversations held

Mean number of conversations trainees report holding with peers

Time frame

Enrollemnt to 4 weeks after last training session

Trainee HIV ART knowledge improvement

Mean change in scores pre/post intervention on a 5-item ART knowledge question set \[range 0-5; higher = better\]

Time frame

Enrollment to end of last session (4 week period)

Trainee HIV PrEP knowledge improvement

Mean change in scores pre/post intervention on a 5-item PrEP knowledge question set \[range 0-5; higher = better\]

Time frame

Enrollment to end of last session (4 week period)

Trainee generalized self-efficacy improvement

Mean change in scores pre/post intervention on the Generalized Self Efficacy-short form (GSE 6) scale \[range 6-24; higher = better\]

Time frame

Enrollment to end of last session (4 week period)

Other outcomes

Barriers and Facilitators to Participant Engagement Assessed Through Semi-Structured Interviews and Focus Group Discussions

Process evaluation of participant engagement using qualitative methods. Data will be collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with trainees and peers. Qualitative thematic analysis will be used to identify barriers and facilitators to engagement, participation, and intervention reach.

Time frame

Enrollment to 4 weeks after last training session

Trainee Confidence in Conducting Peer Conversations Assessed Through Semi-Structured Interviews and Focus Group Discussions

Process evaluation outcome assessed through semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with trainees. Qualitative thematic analysis will explore participants' confidence in initiating and conducting peer conversations following the training programme.

Time frame

Enrollment to 12 weeks after last training session

Facilitators and Barriers to Peer Conversations Assessed Through Semi-Structured Interviews and Focus Group Discussions

Process evaluation outcome assessed through semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with trainees. Qualitative thematic analysis will identify perceived facilitators and barriers influencing the conduct of peer conversations.

Time frame

Enrollment to 12 weeks after last training session

Perceptions of the Training Programme Assessed Through Semi-Structured Interviews and Focus Group Discussions

Process evaluation outcome assessed through semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with trainees and trainers. Qualitative thematic analysis will explore acceptability, perceived value, strengths, and limitations of the training programme.

Time frame

Enrollment to 12 weeks after last training session

Locations

Map coordinates are unavailable for these locations. Locations are shown below instead.

Africa Health Research Institute Status unavailable uMkhanyakude, KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Africa Health Research Institute

Lead sponsor

University College, London

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

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