Isisekelo Sempilo Trial to Optimize Peer (Thetha Nami) Delivery of HIV Prevention to Young People in Rural KwaZulu-Natal

Overview

Despite advances in efficacious, efficient and safe biomedical tools to reduce HIV transmission and acquisition the HIV epidemic in South Africa(SA) remains an intractable problem, with the lifetime risk of infection approaching 70% for a 15-year-old girl currently living in northern KwaZulu-Natal, the Africa Health Research Institute(AHRI) research setting. This is in part due to the difficulty in engaging adolescents and youth in HIV interventions. We build on formative work to develop and tailor the interventions to young people's needs. Our findings suggested that young people want to focus on sexual and reproductive health(SRH) and value health-promotion from people of their own age and background (peer-support). In a 2016 population-based study of 15-24-year-olds in the study area we found that one in five had a curable Sexually Transmitted Infection(STI) of which three quarters of did not report any symptoms and would not have been cured with current syndromic management. We also found that home-based self-sampling and treatment for STIs was acceptable and desirable to young people. Based on this we developed and conducted a 6-month pilot of the Isisekelo Sempilo adolescent and youth friendly clinics. These are mobile and fixed clinics that are linked to existing primary care services. The clinics deliver nurse-led HIV-testing, prevention and care integrated with SRH. To date n=337 of those referred from the community(\~10%) have attended the clinic. In our setting \>85% of school-leavers are unemployed; there are high levels of common mental disorders which increase with age (rising to 32% of those aged 20-22). Systematic reviews have found that community-based delivery of HIV care and peers are effective in supporting HIV care, adherence and virologic suppression. However, none of these interventions have been tested for HIV-prevention and in youth. Based on this we developed and piloted Thetha Nami, an area-based peer-navigator intervention promoting psychosocial well-being in addition to HIV-prevention to young people aged 15-29. Over a four-month period 24-pairs of peer navigators approached 5872, 15-29-year-old men and women, of which 5272 (90%) accepted the needs assessment. We aim to use advances in intervention design and evaluation to answer the question, "will these tailored HIV-prevention interventions developed in partnership with young people arrest the HIV epidemic and improve well-being?"

Study design: We will conduct a 2x2 factorial design intervention pilot trial including 1500 men and women aged 16-29-years old and living in the AHRI surveillance area. The study duration will be 18 months. We will randomly offer one of four combinations of interventions in a factorial trial to 1500 consenting men and women aged 16-29-years old and living in our study area. Study outcomes: (1) a reduction of the proportion of individuals with infectious HIV (i.e. remaining HIV negative or with an undetectable HIV viral load on treatment if positive) and (2) uptake of comprehensive HIV prevention services, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) if negative and antiretroviral (ART) if positive. We will also evaluate uptake of contraception, incidence of pregnancy, mental health and quality of life. Study Population and Recruitment: Research assistants (RAs) will approach 3000 randomly selected 16-29-year old males and females selected from our demographic surveillance area in their homes. From our experience we expect that 2000 will still be eligible, i.e. aged 16-29 and still living in the surveillance area. RAs will provide information about the study to all eligible participants and consent (in the case of 16-17-year-olds assent with parental consent) them to a) be offered an intervention and b) to be followed up at 12 months to measure the outcome. We anticipate that n=1500 \[75% (73-77%)\] will consent to participate. Interventions: a) Standard of Care (SOC): RAs refer participants to adolescent and youth friendly services with family planning, HIV testing and ART if positive and PrEP for those eligible and negative (according to the South African national Department of Health guidelines); b) SRH enhanced arm (Isisekelo Sempilo): Self-collected vaginal and urine samples are collected at enrolment. RAs provide clinic appointment for results, treatment and sexual health promotion and services. These promote fertility and family planning; HIV testing, and benefits of ART including Undetectable=Uninfectious amongst positives and PrEP for those eligible and negative; c) Peer-support (Thetha-Nami): RAs refer the participant to a peer navigator in their community. Peer navigators will assess their health, social and educational needs, provide mentorship, and help them access the services they need. The peer navigator will facilitate attendance, adherence and retention at the clinic; or d) SRH + peer-support. Data Collection: We will measure linkage to clinical services within 60 days of randomisation and adverse events. At 12 months from enrolment RAs will approach all those who consented at baseline to conduct a tablet-based survey on uptake of HIV prevention and care services, uptake of contraception and pregnancy, mental health (using PHQ9), and quality of life. They will collect dry blood spot for HIV ELISA and HIV viral load, and offer point of-care HIV testing, STI testing and treatment. We will conduct a process evaluation to assess service users and providers and the community experience and any social harms. We will establish the cost of delivering the intervention in each arm. Analysis: With n=1500 we have the power to show an increase in linkage to clinical services from 10% in SOC to 22% with peer-support or SRH only and 38% with peer-support and SRH. We also have the power to detect a reduction in the proportion of 16-29-year olds with a detectable HIV viral load from 7% to 3.5% at 12 months.