Project name: Plan and Commit (P+C), HIV Self-testing in South Africa
Project partner: Ezintsha (Wits RHI)
Province: Gauteng
Problem to address: Increasing self-report response rates of HIV test results via whatsapp among individuals who had a HIV self-screening (HIVSS) test.
Intervention: Individuals could receive a HIVSS test through the STAR HIVSS distribution program. Individuals were randomized to one of three arms. In Arm 1, “Plan,” individuals were asked to set a plan for completing a HIVSS test. In Arm 2, “Plan and Commit (P+C),” individuals were asked to set a plan (same as Arm 1) and sign a commitment card for completing a HIVSS test. In Arm 3, Standard of Care (SOC), individuals received a HIVSS test through the STAR program during the same timeframe as the P+C intervention. Both the Plan and the Plan and Commit cards were voluntary and confidential. Individuals were instructed to complete the cards in private and the study team did not collect the cards. All individuals were asked to share a photo of their HIVSS result via whatsapp.
Intervention timeline/ length: 3 weeks, May-June 2019
Findings: The Plan and the Plan and Commit groups had a higher rate of reporting their HIVSS result than the SOC group, however there was no difference in reporting rate between the Plan and Plan and Commit groups.
NCT#: 03898557
Manuscript: Publication pending
