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

Trial Summary

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Social Network Intervention for HIV Prevention?

Research shows that using social networks to influence people can be effective in promoting HIV prevention and self-testing. These strategies can help connect people to testing and care, making them a promising approach for reducing HIV transmission. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Social Network Intervention for HIV Prevention safe for humans?

The research articles do not provide specific safety data for Social Network Interventions, but they discuss the use of these interventions in various HIV prevention and care settings without mentioning any safety concerns. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

How is the social network intervention treatment for HIV prevention different from other treatments?

The social network intervention treatment for HIV prevention is unique because it leverages social connections to influence behavior and promote HIV prevention, rather than relying on traditional medical or pharmaceutical approaches. This method uses social networks to reach hidden or marginalized groups, establish new group norms, and encourage behavior change, making it a low-cost and sustainable option that can be adapted to diverse populations. ^{2 3 4 7 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study aims to learn how to help enable healthy behaviors and lower the risk of HIV among Latinx Men.

Research Team

Mariano Kanamori, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Miami

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

References

1. United States 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. [2018]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Network Interventions for HIV Transmission Elimination. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Network Strategies to Distribute HIV Self-testing Kits: A Global Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social network approaches to recruitment, HIV prevention, medical care, and medication adherence. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Network interventions. [2022]

6. Australia 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. [2022]

7. England 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. [2019]

8. United States 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. [2022]

9. England 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. [2021]