A Semi-Factorial Cluster-Randomized Trial to Estimate the Effect Size of Community Mobilization and VCT Vans on the Adoption of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Services in Andhra Pradesh, India: THE MCVCT STUDY

With an estimated 2.5 million HIV-infected persons, India is home to one of the largest populations of HIV-infected persons in the world. Yet, it is estimated that less than 20% of the people living with HIV in India are aware of their status. Andhra Pradesh (AP), situated in south India, is the state with the highest HIV burden in India. Reports from AP suggest usage of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is low, especially among high-risk groups. VCT has been shown to have many benefits in addition to diagnosis of HIV infection such as reduction in risk behavior, partner referral, and serving as an entry point to the health care system. Community mobilization and VCT vans have been shown in the past to play a role in increasing utilization of VCT services in various developing countries similar to India. The primary objective of this protocol is to arrive at an effect size of community mobilization alone, and both community mobilization and VCT vans, on the adoption of VCT services in Andhra Pradesh, India. Secondary objectives include identifying barriers to VCT, assessing stigma in the community, and establishing a specimen repository at the YRGCARE infectious disease laboratory in Chennai, India. We will achieve these objectives by conducting a cluster randomized clinical trial with 3 arms: ARM 1: standard of care with pre-existing VCT centers (SVCT); ARM 2: community mobilization in the setting of pre-existing VCT centers (CVCT); ARM 3: community mobilization plus VCT van in addition to the pre-existing VCT centers (MCVCT). The overall study duration will be 6 months from randomization. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the role of community mobilization and VCT vans on the adoption of VCT in the Indian context. It will provide us with vital data that will be used to plan a larger powered study to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions including sites from other parts of India. Additionally, this study will also provide us with important information on barriers to VCT in these communities.

Study Overview

Status

Withdrawn

Detailed Description

With an estimated 2.5 million HIV-infected persons, India is home to one of the largest populations of HIV-infected persons in the world. Yet, it is estimated that less than 20% of the people living with HIV in India are aware of their status. Andhra Pradesh (AP), situated in south India, is the state with the highest HIV burden in India. Reports from AP suggest usage of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is low, especially among high-risk groups. VCT has been shown to have many benefits in addition to diagnosis of HIV infection such as reduction in risk behavior, partner referral, and serving as an entry point to the health care system. Community mobilization and VCT vans have been shown in the past to play a role in increasing utilization of VCT services in various developing countries similar to India. The primary objective of this protocol is to arrive at an effect size of community mobilization alone, and both community mobilization and VCT vans, on the adoption of VCT services in Andhra Pradesh, India. Secondary objectives include identifying barriers to VCT, assessing stigma in the community, and establishing a specimen repository at the YRGCARE infectious disease laboratory in Chennai, India. We will achieve these objectives by conducting a cluster randomized clinical trial with 3 arms: ARM 1: standard of care with pre-existing VCT centers (SVCT); ARM 2: community mobilization in the setting of pre-existing VCT centers (CVCT); ARM 3: community mobilization plus VCT van in addition to the pre-existing VCT centers (MCVCT). The overall study duration will be 6 months from randomization. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the role of community mobilization and VCT vans on the adoption of VCT in the Indian context. It will provide us with vital data that will be used to plan a larger powered study to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions including sites from other parts of India. Additionally, this study will also provide us with important information on barriers to VCT in these communities.

Study Type

Observational

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 99 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

    1. Greater than or equal to 18 years of age
    2. Client to the clinic based standard VCT center or the VCT van during the study period
    3. Provides informed consent
    4. Must be a resident of the community for at least 6 months.
    5. Willing to complete survey
    6. Willing to provide a blood sample obtained by finger-stick or venipuncture for HIV testing.
    7. Willing to have blood samples stored.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  1. Participant is less than 18 years of age.
  2. Study staff feels participant is psychologically unfit to understand the consent
  3. Participant has already been enrolled in this study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

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Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

June 23, 2010

Study Completion

September 9, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 9, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 9, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

July 12, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 16, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 13, 2019

Last Verified

September 9, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 999910158
  • 10-I-N158

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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