ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02027714EPICUpdated Mar 24, 2015

Enhanced HIV Prevention in Couples: Feasibility Study #1

An observational study in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), sponsored by Columbia University. Completed at 4 sites in Lesotho. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2015-03-24.

Sponsored by Columbia University · Observational

Study type
Observational
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
230
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to gather information needed to develop a large prevention trial to decrease the risk for HIV transmission among HIV-discordant couples (where one person is HIV-positive and the other is HIVnegative) in Lesotho. The protocol team would like to learn more about men, women and couples in Lesotho and what they think about various topics related to HIV, including HIV testing and counseling, male circumcision and HIV treatment.

There will be three parts to the study including 1) a survey 2) focus group discussions; and 3) in-depth interviews. Two hundred pregnant or recently postpartum women will be recruited to participate in the survey. Women who answer the questionnaire will also be asked to participate in the focus groups. A total of 6-8 groups consisting of 6-12 women each will be conducted. Thirty men from the community will be recruited to participate in an in-depth individual interview.

Read the detailed description

Studies to date indicate that HIV negative partners within HIV-discordant couples (where one partner is HIV+ and the other is HIV-) are at substantial risk of acquiring HIV infection and that such transmission may play animportant role in heterosexual transmission of HIV in countries with high seroprevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study is to conduct preparatory research needed to design and implement an HIV-prevention intervention trial aimed at decreasing the risk for HIV infection among HIV-discordant couples in Lesotho.

Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the study aims to:

  • Establish baseline characteristics of the proposed study population, specifically pregnant and recently postpartum women and of men in Lesotho
  • Explore the types of sexual and social relationships that exist between men and women in Lesotho
  • Assess individual knowledge, understanding and perceptions around different HIV prevention strategies, including HIV testing and treatment, couples counseling and male circumcision
  • Identify interpersonal and individual-level barriers to accessing these types of HIV prevention interventions.

There will be three study components including 1) quantitative survey 2) focus group discussions; and 3) in-depth individual interviews. A quantitative cross-sectional survey will be administered to 200 pregnant and recently postpartum women. Qualitative components will be based on open-ended iterative inquiry via focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with two groups: (1) pregnant and recently postpartum women; and (2) men. Data gathered during this study will inform the study design and intervention components of the proposed prevention intervention study.

02

Conditions studied

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Keywords

  • Discordant
  • Lesotho
  • Couples
  • Enhanced Prevention Package (EPP)
  • ART
  • Counseling
  • Male Circumcision
03

In context

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

3,035 studies on the registry are indexed under Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; 306 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 230 is below the median of 287 across 503 observational studies indexed under Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

Browse Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

Columbia University is the lead sponsor of 1,136 studies on the registry; 195 are open to participants now.

Of its 180 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 148 (82%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Pregnant and postpartum women within 6 months of delivery and men will be enrolled.

This feasibility study is targeting women seeking care in ANCs as these clinics are where large numbers of women learn their HIV status and become engaged in HIV prevention and/or care and treatment services. It is through these women that men from the community will be recruited for participation in the study.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

Women's Quantitative Survey

  • Women at least 18 years of age
  • Pregnant or within 6 months postpartum
  • Receiving antenatal care at target clinic
  • Ability to speak English or Sesotho

Women's Focus Group Discussion

  • All inclusion criteria listed in Women's Quantitative Survey AND
  • Ability to speak Sesotho, specifically
  • Willingness to disclose status within FGD
  • Willingness to allow audio- recording of FGD

Male Individual Interviews

  • Men between 18 and 50 years of age
  • Living or working in one of the two targeted districts
  • Ability to speak Sesotho
  • Willingness to allow audio- recording of interview

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals meeting any of the exclusion criteria will be excluded from study participation.

For all quantitative and qualitative components

  • Individuals who do not meet the inclusion criteria outlined above
  • Any condition which in the opinion of the investigators would interfere with adherence to study requirements
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

05

Study design

Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
230 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Women's Quantitative Survey

    Quantitative surveys will be administered to 200 pregnant and recently postpartum women. Surveys will be conducted in either English or Sesotho depending on the participant's preference. Surveys will be administered by a study-staff member. Survey activities will be conducted in a private space either within or around the clinic building. All study activities will take approximately 1 hour to complete. The survey is comprised of 62 close-ended questions. Included in this survey are questions related to demographics, sexual behaviors, HIV and various HIV testing services.

  • Women's Focus Group Discussions

    6-8 focus groups of approximately 6-12 pregnant or recently postpartum women will be conducted. Focus group discussions will be organized according to HIV serostatus to allow for open dialogue and participant comfort. All group discussions will be conducted in Sesotho. Each group discussion will be facilitated, preferably, by a female study-staff member. All group discussions will be held in a private space either within a study site or another specified location within the community. All study activities will take approximately two hours to complete. Topics that will be discussed during these interviews include relationship dynamics between Basotho men and women, knowledge of HIV and various related issues, including HIV testing, HIV treatment and discordancy in HIV status. Additionally, questions about knowledge and attitudes regarding male circumcision will be asked.

  • Male Interviews

    30 in-depth individual interviews with men. In-depth semi structured interviews consisting of open-ended questions will be conducted in either English or Sesotho depending on the participant's preference will be conducted. Interview activities will be conducted in a private space either within or around the clinic building. Topics that will be discussed during these interviews include relationship dynamics between Basotho men and women, knowledge of HIV and various related issues, including HIV testing, HIV treatment and discordancy in HIV status. Additionally, questions about knowledge and attitudes regarding traditional and medical male circumcision will be asked. Following the completion of the interview, the same facilitator will administer a brief survey to the study participant.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Percent of pregnant and postpartum women who have been tested for HIV

    Using quantitative surveys conducted at the study sites, pregnant and postpartum women within 6 months of delivery will be asked if they have ever been tested for HIV.

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percentage of index participants that live with their partner

    To assess the feasibility of home-based testing, we will assess the percentage of pregnant and recently post-partum women that live with their partners.

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. Percentage of male participants who have been circumcised

    We will ask male participants if they have been circumcised to determine the feasibility and need for MC inclusion in future interventions.

    Time frame: 6 months

07

Study locations

4 sites
  • Le'Coop Health Center
    Mafeteng, Lesotho
  • Mafeteng District Hospital
    Mafeteng, Lesotho
  • Mpharane Clinic
    Mohale's Hoek, Lesotho
  • Ntsekhe Hospital
    Mohale's Hoek, Lesotho
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 24, 2015, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02027714
Responsible party
Wafaa Mahmoud El-Sadr (Director, ICAP, Columbia University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 6, 2014
Start date
Apr 2011
Primary completion
May 2014
Completion
May 2014
Last update
Mar 24, 2015

Study contacts

Wafaa M El-Sadr, MD/MPH
principal investigator · ICAP-NY, Columbia University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2015. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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