Healer-initiated HIV testing to bridge gaps in South Africa
Official title: Know your status: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Healer-initiated HIV Counseling and Testing to Standard of Care
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11535016 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether traditional healers can offer HIV counseling and testing to people who don’t usually get tested, to link more individuals to care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $235,451 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH135738-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535016 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in South Africa who are less likely to test for HIV, especially those in rural areas or with distrust in traditional health services.
✕Less likely to help
People who already access regular HIV testing and care may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
In South Africa, many people at risk for HIV don’t test regularly, especially those with low income, men, rural residents, and people who distrust the health system. The research builds on a pilot where 15 traditional healers offered free HIV testing in private spaces near their clinics, screening hundreds of people. The team will expand this approach, training healers to provide counseling, testing, and linkage to care, aiming to reach individuals who may not engage with conventional health facilities. The study will track testing uptake, positivity, and successful referral to treatment over six months as a real-world implementation effort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people could learn their HIV status and start treatment sooner through trusted community healers.
How similar studies have gone: A pilot showed strong willingness to test and high linkage to care when healers offered services, supporting expansion.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Audet, Carolyn — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Audet, Carolyn
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Know Your Status: Healer-initiated HIV Testing to Link People to Care
A community-based program in South Africa uses traditional healers to offer HIV testing and help people connect to care.
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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.