The Impact of VCT and Condom Distribution as HIV Prevention Strategies Among Youth in Kenya

Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab10,646 enrolled

Overview

The vast majority of new HIV infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 2 million people become infected with HIV/AIDS every year. Forty-five percent of these new HIV infections occur among people under 25 years old, and nearly all of them are due to unprotected sex. Ensuring the adoption of safer sexual behavior among youth is critical to keeping the new generations free of HIV. This research study aims to examine, through a large randomized controlled trial, the impact of two HIV prevention strategies among a youth population in Kenya: Voluntary Counseling and Testing for HIV (VCT), and condom distribution.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

10,646

Conditions

HIV/AIDS HSV-2 Infection

Interventions

Youth are offered VCT conducted onsite via mobile clinics in accordance with Kenya National HIV Testing Guidelines by certified VCT counselors trained by the National AIDS and STI Control Program (NASCOP).

CondomsBEHAVIORAL

Youth are offered 50 packages containing 3 condoms each of Trust brand condoms free of charge.

Eligibility

Sex: ALL

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: Youth previously participated in an earlier study by Duflo, Dupas and Kremer in 328 primary schools in the same study site in Western Province, Kenya who consent to participate. Exclusion Criteria: Youth sampled for the study who do not consent to participate.