MedPath

Caregiver-Assisted Oral Fluid-based HIV Screening in Children: Uganda

Completed
Conditions
HIV Testing
Registration Number
NCT04774666
Lead Sponsor
Catholic Relief Services
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of a caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV test to screen children for HIV. The results of this study are intended to support expanded access to HIV testing and treatment services for children, and to ensure that all newly diagnosed children are linked to clinical care.

Detailed Description

Rationale: Globally, there are 1.8 million children living with HIV (CLHIV), however, despite great progress over the past 15 years, only 52% are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), leaving approximately 864,000 children in need of treatment.1 Pediatric case finding is the first, critical step to close the pediatric ART gap. In Uganda, there are an estimated 36,873 CLHIV in need of HIV treatment.2 Reaching this population is challenging, because children are dependent on parents and caregivers to access HIV testing services. Parents and caregivers often face logistical, societal and other barriers that limit the uptake of testing services for children. In order to achieve the second and third UNAIDS 95 targets for pediatric HIV treatment coverage and viral load suppression to reach epidemic control, country programs need to utilize increasingly targeted and innovative testing modalities to optimize the identification CLHIV. Oral fluid-based screening may present a safe, convenient and reliable way to identify CLHIV that can expand access to essential testing services in resource-limited settings where most CLHIV reside.

Methods: The study will use a cross-sectional cluster sampling design, in which 32 facilities in 16 districts will be selected using probability-proportional-to-size (PPS) sampling. In the 32 selected facilities, index parent/caregivers of approximately 4,687 children will be recruited to accept test kits for their children. Adult index parent/caregivers will be consented to participate in the study and asked for parental permission for their child(ren) to participate, given a number of oral screening kits corresponding to the number of children eligible for screening, and followed-up to confirm the oral fluid-based screening results and participate in a testing experience survey. Any children who screen HIV reactive will receive confirmatory testing and active linkage to care and treatment services. A cost analysis which includes savings associated with facility or home-based costs averted, using existing sources to estimate the costs of facility-based testing and home-based by a community health worker (CHW), preferably from antenatal settings will be undertaken.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
4865
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Estimate the feasibility of implementing caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening for children as part of index testing services for HIV-positive adults.6 months

* Proportion of index parent/caregivers who reported that the caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening kit to screen children for HIV was easy to use.

* Proportion of index parent/caregivers who reported needing additional assistance with administering the oral fluid-based HIV screening kit.

* Proportion of index parent/caregivers who reported adverse events related to the use of caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening kits to screen their children for HIV.

Estimate the effectiveness of caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening on testing yield, return to clinic, and linkage to ART for newly identified CLHIV.6 months

* Proportion of eligible children screened reactive through a caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening kit (i.e., yield).

* Proportion of eligible children who screened reactive through a caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening kit who received confirmatory testing, within 1 day, 1 week, 1 month of their reactive screen.

* Proportion of eligible children who screened reactive through a caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening kit who were started on ART within 1 day, 1 week, 1 month of their confirmatory test.

* Proportion of index parent/caregivers who were offered an oral fluid-based test kit to screen their eligible children for HIV used it.

Estimate the acceptability of implementing caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening of children as part of index testing services for HIV-positive adults.6 months

* Proportion of eligible index parent/caregivers (disaggregated by sex) that accepted an oral fluid-based HIV screening kit as part of innovative index testing services for their eligible children when first offered.

* Proportion of eligible index parent/caregivers (disaggregated by sex) that accepted an oral fluid-based HIV screening kit as part of innovative index testing services for their eligible children when they returned for a subsequent visit.

* Proportion of eligible children (i.e. unknown HIV status) screened with an oral fluid-based HIV screening kit.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Estimate the cost of caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening compared to the standard cost of the existing referral to testing program, from the perspective of the health care provider.6 months

Comparative costs between oral fluid-based screening and the costs of the existing referral to testing program, from the perspective of the health care provider.

Trial Locations

Locations (32)

Butunduzi HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kyenjojo, Kyenjojo District, Uganda

St. Luke Namaliga HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kampala, Luwero District, Uganda

Kiyumba HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Bukoto, Masaka District, Uganda

Bugiri Hospital

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Bugiri, Bugiri District, Uganda

Kazo HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kazo, Kazo District, Uganda

Kigarale HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kyenjojo, Kyenjojo District, Uganda

Mbarara Regional Ref Hospital

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Mbarara, Mbarara District, Uganda

Mukono Cou HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Mukono, Mukono District, Uganda

Ntungamo HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Ntungamo, Ntungamo District, Uganda

Rakai Hospital

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Rakai, Rakai Distsrict, Uganda

Kajjansi HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Busiro, Wakiso District, Uganda

Nankoma HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Bugiri, Bugiri District, Uganda

Lira Regional Ref Hospital

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Lira, Lira District, Uganda

Luwero HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kampala, Luwero District, Uganda

Buwunga HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Masaka, Masaka District, Uganda

Mityana Hospital

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Mityana, Mityana District, Uganda

Nabingoola HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Nabingora, Mubende District, Uganda

Kabuyanda HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kabuyanda, Isingiro District, Uganda

Buremba HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kazo, Kazo District, Uganda

Kasaali HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kyotera, Kyotera District, Uganda

Kyantungo HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Mityana, Mityana District, Uganda

Kasangati HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kasangati, Wakiso District, Uganda

Kinoni HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Bukoto, Lwengo District, Uganda

Kiwangala HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Mbirizi, Lwengo District, Uganda

Nyamityobora HC II

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Mbarara, Mbarara District, Uganda

Mubende Kasambya HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Mubende, Mubende District, Uganda

Kitwe HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kitwe, Ntungamo District, Uganda

Mitukula HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kyotera, Uganda

Rwekubo HC IV

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Kahirimbi, Isingiro District, Uganda

Barr HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Lira, Lira District, Uganda

Seeta-Nazigo HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Nakisunga, Mukono District, Uganda

Lwamaggwa HC III

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Rakai, Rakai District, Uganda

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