Adaptation of a proven HIV prevention approach to help Ghanaian young men increase HIV self-testing
Official title: Adaptation and feasibility of Many Men Many Voices (3MV), an HIV prevention intervention to reduce social barriers and increase HIV self-testing among young men residing in Ghanaian slums
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11526486 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project adapts a well-known HIV prevention program to help young men in Ghana’s slums learn about and use HIV self-testing, aiming to reduce stigma and improve access to testing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $145,735 |
| NIH project number | 3R01TW012671-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11526486 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young men aged 18-25 who have sex with men and live in Ghanaian urban slums and who face barriers to conventional HIV testing.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not in the target population or those who do not face testing barriers may receive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project takes the 3MV intervention, originally used in the US, and adapts it for young men ages 18-25 living in urban Ghanaian slums. It focuses on reducing stigma, protecting confidentiality, helping people navigate local health services, and shifting positive peer norms to support testing. HIV self-testing is promoted as a private, convenient option to overcome barriers to clinic-based testing. The study will test how well the adapted program works in a setting with limited healthcare infrastructure and higher-density living conditions. Outcomes will include uptake of HIV self-testing and changes in attitudes toward testing and stigma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could increase HIV testing among a vulnerable group, enabling earlier diagnosis and linkage to care.
How similar studies have gone: Adaptations of evidence-based HIV interventions have shown promise in diverse settings, though this is one of the first tests of adapting 3MV to Ghanaian slums with HIV self-testing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abu-Ba'are, Gamji Rabiu — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Abu-Ba'are, Gamji Rabiu
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.