The purpose of this study is to determine if providing free laboratory test to pregnant women and their spouses at churches, in addition to laboratories or hospitals, will increase the number of pregnant women and their spouses who get screened for HIV, malaria, sickle cell trait, hemoglobin levels, syphilis, and hepatitis B. These tests are necessary to keep mothers healthy during pregnancy and lead to healthy babies. This research is taking place in 40 churches in Nigeria.
We are conducting a randomized trial to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of a congregation-based Healthy Beginning Initiative (HBI) delivered by lay health advisors (Intervention Group; IG), versus a Facility Based Approach (Control Group; CG) on the HIV testing rate and PMTCT completion among 2,700 pregnant women. Four dioceses with forty churches nested in the dioceses, will be randomly assigned to either the IG (N=2; n=20) or the CG (N=2; n=20). The HBI combines a family educational game show and an integrated on-site laboratory testing in the context of a baby shower. Monthly prayer sessions for pregnant women will be used for recruitment and a baby reception following infant baptisms will be used for follow up after delivery. The primary outcome is difference in testing rate among pregnant women in IG compared to CG. The secondary outcomes are HIV testing rate among male partners and PMTCT completion among HIV-infected pregnant women. Pregnant women will complete an investigator-administered questionnaire at the baby reception to collect information on HIV testing and PMTCT completion. Data will be confirmed with Health Facilities and on-site testing data. This proposal is a collaboration among Partners for Prevention, education, Training, Treatment and Research (PeTR-Global Solutions)/AIDSRelief (our PEPFAR-funded partner in Nigeria responsible for training, HIV testing, linkage to treatment and local oversight of the project); New York University School of Medicine (program evaluation and shares oversight with PI), Board of Regents, NSHE, obo University of Nevada, Reno (provide overall oversight, data management and evaluation of program effectiveness).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
5,400
PeTR Global Solutions
Abuja, Maitama, Nigeria
Analysis of HIV testing rates in pregnant women and their male partners in a congregation based approach compared to a health facility based approach.
We need to have 1,313 pregnant women in each arm of the study and follow them through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks post-delivery. Since pregnant women will be recruited at different stages of pregnancy, we will need to end recruitment 5 months after the study is open to recruitment and allow time to follow last recruited pregnant women through 9 months of pregnancy and up to 6 weeks post-delivery (approximately 11 months).
Time frame: One year
Associations between HIV Test and Interventions and other covariates (risk factors) at individual- and community (church)-level will also be analyzed.
Variables include age, household income, education level, previous HIV testing, last menstrual period, marital status, and employment status. HIV testing and PMTCT completion: will be assessed using a one-page investigator-administered questionnaire completed by pregnant women during the baby reception.
Time frame: one year
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