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Published in: Trials 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Study protocol

Impact of a community health worker HIV treatment and prevention intervention in an HIV hotspot fishing community in Rakai, Uganda (mLAKE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Larry W. Chang, Ismail Mbabali, Xiangrong Kong, Heidi Hutton, K. Rivet Amico, Caitlin E. Kennedy, Fred Nalugoda, David Serwadda, Robert C. Bollinger, Thomas C. Quinn, Steven J. Reynolds, Ronald Gray, Maria Wawer, Gertrude Nakigozi

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Effective yet practical strategies are needed to increase engagement in HIV treatment and prevention services, particularly in high-HIV-prevalence hotspots. We designed a community-based intervention called “Health Scouts” to promote uptake and adherence to HIV services in a highly HIV-prevalent fishing community in Rakai, Uganda. Using a situated Information, Motivation, and Behavioral skills theory framework, the intervention consists of community health workers, called Health Scouts, who use motivational interviewing strategies and mobile health tools to promote engagement in HIV treatment and prevention services.

Methods/design

The Health Scout intervention is being evaluated through a pragmatic, parallel, cluster-randomized controlled trial with an allocation ratio of 1:1. The study setting is a single high-HIV-prevalence fishing community in Rakai, Uganda divided into 40 contiguous neighborhood clusters each containing about 65 households. Twenty clusters received the Health Scout Intervention; 20 clusters received standard of care. The Health Scout intervention is delivered within the community at the household level, targeting all residents aged 15 years or older. The primary programmatic outcomes are self-reported HIV care, antiretroviral therapy, and male circumcision coverage; the primary biologic outcome is population-level HIV viremia prevalence. Follow-up is planned for about 3 years.

Discussion

HIV treatment and prevention service engagement remains suboptimal in HIV hotspots. New, community-based implementation approaches are needed. If found to be effective in this trial, the Health Scout intervention may be an important component of a comprehensive HIV response.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02556957. Registered on 20 September 2015.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Impact of a community health worker HIV treatment and prevention intervention in an HIV hotspot fishing community in Rakai, Uganda (mLAKE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors
Larry W. Chang
Ismail Mbabali
Xiangrong Kong
Heidi Hutton
K. Rivet Amico
Caitlin E. Kennedy
Fred Nalugoda
David Serwadda
Robert C. Bollinger
Thomas C. Quinn
Steven J. Reynolds
Ronald Gray
Maria Wawer
Gertrude Nakigozi
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-2243-6

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