Support for South African women to self-test for HIV and syphilis and connect to treatment or PrEP
Formative work to develop an intervention to support dual HIV/syphilis self-testing and linkage to PrEP and/or HIV/syphilis treatment for women in South Africa: The THANDO Study
This project will create ways to help women in South Africa use combined HIV and syphilis self-tests and get linked to HIV treatment, syphilis care, or PrEP.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322510 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to share your experiences and preferences about self-testing through interviews and group discussions with the research team. The team will work with local clinics and stakeholders to design instructions, support tools, and referral pathways that fit community needs. They will pilot those materials and procedures with small groups of women to see what helps people complete testing and get care. Feedback from participants will shape a ready-to-use intervention for wider use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adult women in South Africa who are sexually active, especially those who do not test regularly or who are unsure of their HIV or syphilis status, are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People already continuously engaged in HIV care with stable treatment, men, or individuals living outside the study communities in South Africa are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase routine HIV and syphilis testing among women and improve timely linkage to PrEP or treatment, reducing untreated infections and transmission risk.
How similar studies have performed: HIV self-testing programs have previously increased testing uptake and linkage to care, but combined HIV/syphilis self-testing with tailored linkage supports for women in South Africa is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rael, Christine Tagliaferri — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Rael, Christine Tagliaferri
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.