Using men's social networks to increase 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-11419039 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers HIV self-test kits through men's social networks with phone support to help men in eastern Zimbabwe get tested and start 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) | $156,258 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH133488-03S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419039 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are men living in the participating communities of eastern Zimbabwe who are HIV-negative or unsure of their status and are reachable by phone.
✕Less likely to help
People who already know they are HIV-positive, are on effective HIV treatment, or who live outside the study communities are unlikely to benefit from this program.
What this research studies
You would be reached through male peer networks where friends distribute HIV self-test kits and encourage follow-up. Some communities are randomly chosen to receive the peer distribution plus phone-based support and improved information about HIV risk, while other communities continue with usual services. About 3,591 men across 44 community clusters will be followed for six months using data from the long-running Manicaland cohort to see who starts PrEP. The study tracks HIV testing, PrEP initiation, and related behaviors to learn whether this approach helps more men access prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more men could learn their HIV status and start PrEP, reducing HIV risk for themselves and their partners.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in sub-Saharan Africa shows peer-distributed HIV self-testing is feasible and acceptable, though using it specifically to increase PrEP starts is less established.
Where this research is happening
-
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
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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.