Using men's social networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP uptake
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-11400627 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project helps men in eastern Zimbabwe get HIV self-test kits and phone-based support from male peers to increase starting HIV prevention medicine (PrEP).
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) | $112,815 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH133488-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400627 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men living in the study communities in eastern Zimbabwe who are sexually active and not currently on PrEP or known to be HIV-positive are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who already have HIV, are already taking PrEP, or live outside the study area are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If I join, the team will work through groups of men in local communities and train peer leaders to distribute HIV self-test kits and offer phone support. Half the communities will get this peer-distribution plus phone help while the other half continue usual services, and about 3,591 men will be followed for six months. The researchers will use existing Manicaland surveillance data and local clinics that now provide PrEP to link testing to clinic referrals. They will compare how many men start PrEP in the peer-supported communities versus the usual-care communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more men may learn their HIV status quickly and be more likely to start PrEP, lowering their risk of HIV and reducing new infections in partners.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in sub-Saharan Africa has shown peer distribution of HIV self-tests is feasible and increases testing, but evidence that this reliably leads to higher PrEP uptake is still limited.
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.