Social Network Intervention for HIV Prevention

Overseen By Mariano Kanamori, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Miami

Must not be taking: PrEP

Disqualifiers: HIV positive, Non-Latinx, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

624 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore ways to encourage healthy behaviors and reduce the risk of HIV among Latinx men through a social network intervention. Participants in the experimental group will engage in a 15-month social network program, while the control group will receive standard care. The study seeks HIV-negative Latinx men who have experienced certain behaviors or conditions, such as recent unprotected sex with multiple partners, a recent sexually transmitted infection, or sharing needles.

As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could lead to significant community health improvements.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are currently on PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV), you may not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that this social network intervention is safe for HIV prevention?

Research has shown that social network interventions are generally safe for participants. These interventions can enhance HIV testing and prevention without causing harm. For instance, one study found that social network strategies increased HIV testing rates and connected more people to prevention and treatment services.

No reports of serious negative side effects have emerged from these interventions. The focus remains on using the influence of peers and family to encourage healthy behaviors. This method has proven effective without causing significant problems for participants.

It is important to note that this study is labeled as "Not Applicable," indicating it does not involve testing a new drug or treatment with known physical risks. Instead, it focuses on social strategies, which are usually well-tolerated. Participants can generally expect a safe experience while potentially benefiting from improved health behaviors. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the social network intervention for HIV prevention because it takes a community-based approach, unlike traditional methods that focus primarily on medication or singular behavior change. By engaging participants' social networks, it aims to create a supportive environment that encourages safer practices and reduces the risk of HIV transmission. This intervention leverages the power of peer influence and community support, which can lead to more sustainable behavior changes compared to individual-focused strategies.

What evidence suggests that this social network intervention is effective for HIV prevention?

Research has shown that using social networks can greatly enhance efforts to prevent HIV. In this trial, participants in the "Friend 'Amigx' Social Network Intervention" arm will receive a social network intervention, which studies have found increases the number of people getting tested for HIV, including first-time testers and those who test positive. Other research highlights that these approaches keep people informed about prevention and treatment options. Social network strategies also promote safer behaviors, such as more frequent condom use, reducing the risk of spreading HIV. Overall, these methods appear promising in lowering the risk of HIV among key groups. ^{2 3 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Mariano Kanamori, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Miami

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Latinx men who are at risk of HIV. The study will focus on promoting healthy behaviors to reduce their risk of contracting the virus.

Inclusion Criteria

Provision of signed and dated informed consent form

Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study

Self-report one or more of the following behaviors and health conditions in the last 6 months which meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clinical guidelines for PrEP eligibility: Diagnosed with bacterial sexually transmitted infection (e.g., syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia), Sex with a partner who is living with HIV, Sex without a condom with two or more partners whose HIV status were unknown, Injection drug use and sharing injection equipment, Self-reported status as HIV negative, Willing to be tested for HIV

Exclusion Criteria

I am living with HIV.

Refusal of HIV test

Identifies as Non-Latinx

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive either a social network intervention or standard care for up to 15 months

15 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for PrEP use, prescription proof, and adherence

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Social network intervention

Trial Overview The study is testing a social network intervention against a control group to see if it can encourage healthier behaviors and lower HIV risk among participants.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Friend "Amigx" Social network intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participant will receive a social network intervention for up to 15-months

Group II: I want "Yo Quiero" Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will receive the standard of care for up to 15-months

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Miami

Lead Sponsor

Trials

976

Recruited

423,000+

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Collaborator

Trials

3,361

Recruited

5,516,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Network interventions for HIV prevention leverage social media to identify key individuals who can help spread information and promote safe sex practices, showing promise in reducing HIV risk behaviors.

Recent studies indicate that these interventions have successfully decreased HIV transmission among vulnerable groups, highlighting their potential for significant public health impact, although they are not yet widely adopted in public health strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Network Interventions for HIV Transmission Elimination. Pagkas-Bather, J., Young, LE., Chen, YT., et al.[2021]

HIV prevention programs can effectively target hidden and marginalized populations by leveraging existing social networks, which can help establish new norms and reduce risk behaviors among members.

The article provides practical methodologies for accessing and engaging high-risk social networks, including identifying their members and leaders, and assessing their HIV risk behaviors, with case studies from St Petersburg, Russia, demonstrating these techniques in action.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identifying, recruiting, and assessing social networks at high risk for HIV/AIDS: methodology, practice, and a case study in St Petersburg, Russia. Amirkhanian, YA., Kelly, JA., McAuliffe, TL.[2019]

Social network strategies significantly enhance the uptake of HIV self-testing (HIVST), with peer distribution showing the highest effectiveness, leading to a 79% probability of increased testing compared to standard facility-based methods.

Both peer and partner distribution methods not only improved HIV testing rates but also increased the likelihood of detecting HIV reactivity, while linkage to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remained similar to traditional testing methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Network Strategies to Distribute HIV Self-testing Kits: A Global Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Hu, S., Jing, F., Fan, C., et al.[2023]

A study involving 245 participants showed that a secondary distribution strategy, where individuals distributed HIV/syphilis self-testing kits, was significantly more effective in promoting HIV testing among Chinese gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) compared to using referral cards for facility-based tests.

The secondary distribution method not only engaged more individuals to distribute tests (92 indexes distributing to 179 alters) but also proved to be much more cost-effective, costing only USD 120 per alter tested compared to USD 9408 for the referral card method.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparing the effectiveness of secondary distribution of HIV/syphilis dual self-testing to testing card referral in promoting HIV testing among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Guangzhou, China: a quasi-experimental study. Sha, Y., Xiong, Y., Ong, JJ., et al.[2022]

The Social Network Strategy (SNS) effectively engages HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative Black men who have sex with men (MSM) to recruit their peers for HIV testing, demonstrating its potential to target high-risk clusters for better outreach.

Implementing the SNS is resource-intensive, requiring careful planning, dedicated staff, and ongoing feedback, highlighting the need for further studies to assess its cost-effectiveness compared to other HIV testing strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lessons learned from use of social network strategy in HIV testing programs targeting African American men who have sex with men. McCree, DH., Millett, G., Baytop, C., et al.[2022]

The study analyzed 28 trials involving social network strategies (SNS) for HIV prevention among marginalized groups, showing that SNS significantly reduced high-risk behaviors such as unprotected intercourse and sex with multiple partners.

SNS was also effective in lowering HIV seroconversion rates and increasing HIV testing uptake and participant retention, indicating its potential as a valuable intervention for reaching key populations at risk for HIV.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social network strategy as a promising intervention to better reach key populations for promoting HIV prevention: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Yang, X., Fang, T., Mobarak, SA., et al.[2021]

Network interventions utilize social network data to effectively promote behavior change and enhance organizational performance, offering a range of strategies and tactics.

The choice of a specific network intervention strategy is influenced by factors such as the type of network data available, the nature of the behavior being targeted, its current prevalence, and the social context in which the intervention is implemented.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Network interventions. Valente, TW.[2022]

Social network analysis is a powerful tool for understanding and addressing health disparities in HIV prevention and care, linking social factors to individual behaviors.

Utilizing social networks for HIV interventions can lead to cost-effective and sustainable strategies for recruitment, prevention, and treatment adherence, with considerations for ethical issues and network dynamics.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social network approaches to recruitment, HIV prevention, medical care, and medication adherence. Latkin, CA., Davey-Rothwell, MA., Knowlton, AR., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 58 studies found that social network analysis (SNA) is predominantly used (64%) to measure social influences in HIV prevention among substance users, while social network-based interventions (SNI) are less commonly applied (22%).

The review highlights a significant gap in the application of SNI for HIV care continuum, as most studies focused on prevention rather than diagnosis, care linkage, or treatment adherence, indicating a need for more comprehensive approaches in HIV management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Network Strategies to Address HIV Prevention and Treatment Continuum of Care Among At-risk and HIV-infected Substance Users: A Systematic Scoping Review. Ghosh, D., Krishnan, A., Gibson, B., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3669900/

Social network approaches to recruitment, HIV prevention ... Social network analysis can provide a method to understand health disparities in HIV rates and treatment access and outcomes. Social network analysis is a value ...

2. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(24)00539-4/fulltext

The effect of a social network-based intervention to ... This study aimed to examine whether a HIV status-neutral, social network-based intervention could improve testing and linkage to prevention and treatment among ...

3. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jia2.26353

Social network‐based approaches to HIV testing: a ... Social network-based approaches may enhance HIV testing uptake, increase the proportion of first-time testers and those testing positive for HIV ...

4. publichealth.jmir.org publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e69495

An Enhanced Social Network Strategy to Increase the Uptake ... The study will evaluate the effectiveness of eSNS to (1) increase HIV prevention and treatment uptake among these key populations and (2) ...

5. trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-022-06186-z

Social network-based group intervention to promote HIV ... The primary outcomes are HIV testing and condom use among alter participants; secondary outcomes are engagement in HIV prevention advocacy and ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5085887/

Social Network Strategies to Address HIV Prevention and ... Social network analysis (SNA) and social network-based interventions (SNI) are important analytical tools harnessing peer and family influences critical for HIV ...