Clear visual consent for mothers and newborns affected by HIV
Strengthening informed consent for authentic participation in perinatal HIV research
This project uses picture-based consent forms to help breastfeeding mothers (including those with HIV) and their newborns understand and make decisions about joining perinatal research in South Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11395643 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You are invited to see a visual consent form designed for mothers and infants in perinatal HIV work. Columbia and Stellenbosch teams developed picture-based consent materials and will test one of these visual forms within an ongoing breastfeeding synbiotic trial in South Africa. The project combines practical testing of the current visual consent with interviews and other social-science activities to refine the materials. The findings will guide a visual consent approach for a larger future clinical trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are breastfeeding mother–infant pairs recruited shortly after delivery at the South African trial sites, including mothers living with and without HIV.
Not a fit: People not enrolled in the perinatal trial or those outside the South African study sites are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help mothers better understand research, protect their rights, and increase fair access to studies for low-literacy and stigmatized populations.
How similar studies have performed: Other projects have used visual consent tools with some success in low-literacy settings, but fully replacing written consent has not been proven and this approach is still being refined.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuhn, Louise — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kuhn, Louise
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 below.