Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) between the ages of 15-29 years continue to bear the brunt of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections in South Africa despite progress recorded in prevention and treatment programmes. The ongoing susceptibility of young women to HIV infection and the sub-optimal uptake of prevention options such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) that are highly effective creates a need for an HIV vaccine to benefit populations at substantial risk of HIV infection. However, lessons from previous vaccine studies and the recent COVID-19 vaccine have highlighted significant barriers to vaccine uptake, such as widespread misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. These challenges threaten the successful implementation of a future HIV vaccine. Building on these insights, this study will utilise psychological inoculation theory to develop and evaluate HIV vaccine messages among adolescent girls and young women. Primary objective: To compare changes in intentions to receive HIV vaccine following misinformation exposure in groups with and without psychological inoculation and behavioural economics boost. Secondary objectives: (1) To compare believability and persuasiveness of misinformation claims and motivational threat associated with misinformation in groups with and without psychological inoculation and behavioural economics boost. (2) To explore subgroup effects by relevant sociodemographic and behavioural factors including HIV risk, PrEP history, COVID-19 vaccine history, general vaccine hesitancy, and information avoidance. The investigators will conduct a two-arm randomized controlled trial of 2-3 inoculation messages that address emerging myths and misinformation about the HIV vaccine in South Africa. Participants will be randomly assigned to a control group or an intervention arm: enhanced inoculation message with insights from behavioural economics.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
2,163
Participants enrolled in the enhanced inoculation message arm will receive messages that warn them about impending HIV vaccine misinformation and explains why those claims are false or misleading, the messages will be enhanced with insights from behavioural economics see Appendix 5: "Inoculation message with a BE boost" for an example of the inoculation message. As part of the behavioural economics boost, participants may choose to receive a small token (e.g., sticker, badge, bracelet) with a message promoting vaccination as a consistency and commitment prime.
Participants enrolled in the control group will receive unrelated information on diabetes and nutrition topics of the same length as the inoculation messages. Please see Appendix 6 for an example of how this message will be structured. This will make the control group an attention control group and ensure that findings are not confounded by the intervention group spending more time and attentional resources on participation in the study.
Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
HIV vaccine intention, at the end of the baseline assessment
Intention to get the HIV vaccine, measured after inoculation intervention and misinformation exposure The intention to get the vaccine will be measured on a 0-10 scale.
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
HIV vaccine intention, follow-up
Intention to get the HIV vaccine, measured at follow-up survey following misinformation exposure and intervention. Measured on a 0-10 scale.
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Recommend to friends, at the end of the baseline assessment
Intention to recommend the HIV vaccine to friends, measured at survey baseline following misinformation exposure and intervention. Measured on a 0-10 scale.
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Recommend to friends, follow-up
Intention to recommend the HIV vaccine to friends, measured at follow-up survey following misinformation exposure and intervention, controlling for baseline pre-intervention/exposure intention. Measured on a 0-10 scale.
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Credibility of inoculated exposure #1
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Credibility of inoculated exposure #2
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Credibility of inoculated exposure #3
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Credibility of inoculated exposure #4
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Credibility of inoculated exposure #5
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Credibility of inoculated exposure #6
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Anxiousness of inoculated exposure #1
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Anxiousness of inoculated exposure #2
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Anxiousness of inoculated exposure #3
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Anxiousness of inoculated exposure #4
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Anxiousness of inoculated exposure #5
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Anxiousness of inoculated exposure #6
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Shareability of inoculated exposure #1
Likelihood of your sharing the claim for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Shareability of inoculated exposure #2
Likelihood of your sharing the claim for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Shareability of inoculated exposure #3
Likelihood of your sharing the claim for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Shareability of inoculated exposure #4
Likelihood of your sharing the claim for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Shareability of inoculated exposure #5
Likelihood of your sharing the claim for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Shareability of inoculated exposure #6
Likelihood of your sharing the claim for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against and four new claims. All measured on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: At the end of the baseline assessment
Credibility of inoculated exposure #1, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Credibility of inoculated exposure #2, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Shareability of inoculated exposure #1, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Shareability of inoculated exposure #2, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Anxiousness of inoculatedexposure #1, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Anxiousness of inoculated exposure #2, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Credibility of new claims, exposure #7, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Credibility of new claims, exposure #8, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Credibility of new claims, exposure #9, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Credibility of new claims, exposure #10, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Credibility of new claims, exposure #11, follow-up
Extent to which the claim is credible, extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine, likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Anxiousness o of new claims, exposure #7, follow-up
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Anxiousness of new claims, claim #8, follow-up
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Anxiousness of new claims, exposure #9, follow-up
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Anxiousness of new claims, exposure #10, follow-up
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Anxiousness of new claims, exposure #11, follow-up
Extent to which the claim makes you anxious or nervous about the HIV vaccine for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Shareability of new claims, exposure #7, follow-up
Likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Shareability of new claims, exposure #8, follow-up
Likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Shareability of new claims, exposure #9, follow-up
Likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Shareability of new claims, exposure #10, follow-up
Likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
Shareability of new claims, exposure #11, follow-up
Likelihood of your sharing the claim, for both HIV vaccine claims specifically inoculated against at baseline. Each measured at follow-up on a 1-7 scale for each of 5 claims, and then summed for a global index (range: 5-35).
Time frame: 2-4 weeks
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