Crowdsourcing to Reduce HIV Stigma Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Kazakhstan

Stigma, Social Clinical Trial

Official title:

Reducing HIV Stigma to Increase HIV Testing Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Kazakhstan Using a Crowdsourcing Approach

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05107401
• Other study ID #: AAAT7871
• Secondary ID: R21TW012017
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 24, 2023
• Est. completion date: August 22, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: January 2024
• Source: Columbia University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This project will assess whether a digital crowdsourced intervention can reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV self-testing among adolescents and young adults (AYA). NIH has emphasized the need for research on interventions to reduce HIV-associated stigma and its impact on the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs). The proposed study has the highest public health significance: it uses a community-based participatory approach to engage local AYA to develop a digital crowdsourced HIV stigma reduction and self-testing intervention to reduce HIV stigma and increase HIV testing.

Study Aim 1: To develop a crowdsourced digital HIV stigma reduction and self-testing intervention targeting AYA in Kazakhstan. Using a community-based participatory approach that engages local adolescents and young adults (AYA) and youth organizations, we will launch a national crowdsourcing contest in which AYA will design multimedia content to reduce HIV stigma in order to promote HIV testing among peers.

Study Aim 2: To pilot test this crowdsourced HIV stigma reduction and self-testing intervention in a preliminary efficacy trial. We will assess the intervention's feasibility and acceptability and obtain preliminary estimates of its effects on decreasing HIV stigma (primary outcome) and increasing HIV testing (secondary outcome) among AYA in Kazakhstan who received the intervention compared to individuals who did not. Participants (n=168) will be randomized 1:1 to: 1) receive the winning multimedia crowdsourced HIV stigma reduction content and a link for HIV self-testing, or 2) receive standard Kazakhstan Ministry of Health HIV informational materials and a link for HIV self-testing.

Description:

This project will assess whether a digital crowdsourced intervention can reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV self-testing among adolescents and young adults (AYA). Globally AYA are at increased risk for HIV acquisition. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), new HIV infections among 15-24 year old AYA are expected to increase 28% by 2030. In Kazakhstan, one in four HIV infections occur among AYA. Despite the growing HIV burden among AYA in Kazakhstan, this population has some of the lowest HIV testing rates in the country, largely due to stigma. Yet few efforts in Kazakhstan address HIV stigma and the role it plays as a barrier to HIV testing. Digital technologies and crowdsourcing campaigns (i.e., engaging groups of AYA online to address public health challenges and share solutions) are scalable, cost-effective tools that can increase HIV testing services and reduce HIV stigma in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and other resource- constrained settings. Crowdsourcing may be particularly successful among AYA, given their high levels of social media use and technological literacy. Complementing the crowdsourcing approach, mailing HIV rapid test kits can enable AYA to avoid the stigma associated with attending the AIDS Center and overcome transportation barriers.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 216
• Est. completion date: August 22, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: August 22, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 16 Years to 24 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 16-24

• Report previous sex with another individual

• Reside in Kazakhstan

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not willing to provide consent or not able to understand study procedures

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• HIV Testing
• Stigma, Social

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Digital Crowdsourced Intervention to Reduce HIV Stigma among Adolescents and Young Adults
Adolescents and young adults will participate in a crowdsourcing contest to create digital materials to reduce HIV stigma in order to increase HIV testing. Entries will be judged by a community judging panel and expert judging panel. Winning entries will be selected for the digital intervention and presented to participants in the intervention arm.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Kazakhstan	Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia	Almaty

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Columbia University	Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Fogarty International Center of the National Institute of Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Kazakhstan, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Mean score change in HIV Stigma Scale	This is to measure HIV stigma. The scale/questionnaire is comprised of 10 items on a 4-point Likert scale (score range from 4-40). Higher scores indicate higher levels of stigma. Outcome will be assessing in mean score change from baseline to 3 months follow-up.	Baseline and 3 months
Secondary	Uptake of HIV self-test	This is to measure HIV testing. The number is generated by whether an HIV self-test kit was ordered and is a dichotomous outcome (yes/no).	Up to 3 months