Project Accept (HPTN 043): A Community-Based Intervention to Reduce HIV Incidence in Populations at Risk for HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa and Thailand

Citation

Khumalo-Sakutukwa, Gertrude; Morin, Stephen F.; Fritz, Katherine; Charlebois, Edwin D.; van Rooyen, Heidi; Chingono, Alfred; Modiba, Precious; Mrumbi, Khalifa; Visrutaratna, Surasing; & Singh, Basant, et al. (2008). Project Accept (HPTN 043): A Community-Based Intervention to Reduce HIV Incidence in Populations at Risk for HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa and Thailand. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 49(4), 422-431. PMCID: PMC2664736

Abstract

Background: Changing community norms to increase awareness of HIV status and reduce HIV-related stigma has the potential to reduce the incidence of HIV-1 infection in the developing world.
Methods: We developed and implemented a multilevel intervention providing community-based HIV mobile voluntary counseling and testing, community mobilization, and posttest support services. Forty-eight communities in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Thailand were randomized to receive the intervention or clinic-based standard voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), the comparison condition.We monitored utilization of community-based HIV mobile voluntary counseling and testing and clinic-based standard VCT by community of residence at 3 sites, which was used to assess differential uptake. We also developed quality assurance procedures to evaluate staff fidelity to the intervention.
Findings: In the first year of the study, a 4-fold increase in testing was observed in the intervention versus comparison communities.We also found an overall 95% adherence to intervention components. Study outcomes, including prevalence of recent HIV infection and community-level HIV stigma, will be assessed after 3 years of intervention.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0b013e31818a6cb5

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2008

Journal Title

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Author(s)

Khumalo-Sakutukwa, Gertrude
Morin, Stephen F.
Fritz, Katherine
Charlebois, Edwin D.
van Rooyen, Heidi
Chingono, Alfred
Modiba, Precious
Mrumbi, Khalifa
Visrutaratna, Surasing
Singh, Basant
Sweat, Michael D.
Celentano, David D.
Coates, Thomas J., for the NIMH Project Accept Study Team [
Audrey E. Pettifor, Member
]

PMCID

PMC2664736