Using male peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
Official title: Harnessing male peer networks to enhance engagement with HIV prevention: A largescale cluster randomized trial to increase HIV self-testing and PrEP uptake
Funded at Stellenbosch University · NIH-11084525 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Men in eastern Zimbabwe will be offered HIV self-tests through their social networks plus phone support to help them know their status and start PrEP if appropriate.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stellenbosch University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stellenbosch, SOUTH AFRICA) |
| Project start | August 3, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $201,486 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH133488-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11084525 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are men living in the selected communities of eastern (Manicaland) Zimbabwe who are not currently on PrEP and who can be reached by phone.
✕Less likely to help
People already living with HIV, those already reliably on PrEP or ART, women, or people living outside the targeted clusters are unlikely to benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
If you join, a friend or peer in your community may give you an HIV self-test kit and you can get phone-based guidance on how to use it and what your results mean. The project works across 44 community clusters and follows about 3,591 men for six months to see whether these peer-distributed tests and support lead more men to start PrEP. The study uses existing local surveillance and clinic networks in the Manicaland area where PrEP is being rolled out. Participation focuses on men reachable by phone and linked to participating local clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This approach could help more men learn their HIV status and begin PrEP, lowering their risk of HIV and reducing onward transmission.
How similar studies have gone: Peer distribution of HIV self-tests in sub-Saharan Africa has been shown to be feasible and acceptable, while combining that approach with phone support to increase PrEP initiation is more novel.
Where this research is happening
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Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tanser, Frank Courteney — Stellenbosch University
- Study coordinator: Tanser, Frank Courteney
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Harnessing male peer networks to boost HIV testing and PrEP use
A large clinical trial in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through male peer networks, with phone support, increases PrEP uptake among men.
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Harnessing men's peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
A large project in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through men’s social networks, with phone support, can lead to more men starting PrEP and using HIV testing.
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TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
Aims to help people in households with TB in Uganda access HIV PrEP as part of a combined prevention approach.
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How choosing PrEP products could improve HIV protection for young women in Kenya
This project looks at which HIV-prevention options young Kenyan women prefer and how choosing a product affects how well they stay protected.
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Effectiveness of PrEP product choice for HIV prevention among young Kenyan women seeking reproductive health services
A study tests which PrEP options best help young Kenyan women stay protected against HIV when they access reproductive health services.
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Nurse-led group program to boost PrEP use for women at risk of HIV
A nurse-developed, three-session group program helps women in midwestern cities start and stay on PrEP to prevent HIV.
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.