Feasibility of HIV Prevention Cohort Studies Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Sub-Saharan Africa

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to determine the feasibility of recruiting and retaining men who have sex with men (MSM) in a multi-country prospective cohort study in preparation for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention studies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Detailed Description
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HPTN 075 is an observational cohort study. Participants will be accrued over six months at four sites in SSA using convenience sampling strategies, with no replacement for participants lost to follow-up. Each participant will be followed for 12 months, during which five study visits involving structured HIV behavioral assessments, medical examinations, and collection of biological samples will be conducted (including enrollment and quarterly follow-up visits). Participants who do not complete 12 months of follow-up will be contacted to explore reasons for no longer participating.

Official Title
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HPTN 075: Feasibility of HIV Prevention Cohort Studies Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Sub-Saharan Africa

Conditions
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HIV

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Observational


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Biologically male at birth, according to self-report; 18-44 years old (inclusive); Willing and able to provide informed consent; Willing to undergo HIV testing throughout the study and to receive those test results; Reporting at least one act of anal intercourse in the previous 3 months (12 weeks) with a person reported by the participant to be biologically male; Able to provide complete locator identification for themselves and at least two other personal contacts; Willing to participate in all scheduled study assessments, including specimen collection, laboratory assessments, and sample storage; Committing to not participate in any HIV intervention or vaccine study while participating in HPTN 075; Planning to remain in the study area for at least one year; For HIV-uninfected men: All HIV test results at the Screening visit must be non-reactive/negative; For HIV-infected men (up to 20 per site): All HIV test results at the Screening visit must be reactive/positive. Men who are already on PrEP will not be excluded. Additionally, self- or other-identified transgender women and male sex workers will not be excluded. There will, however, be no specific effort to recruit these groups. Exclusion Criteria: Unwilling to adhere to study procedures; Past or current participation in a biomedical and/or behavioral HIV/STI intervention or cohort study, including HIV vaccine studies; however, participation in local/area PrEP demonstration projects does not preclude participation in HPTN 075; HIV-infected men who report that they are already on ART or in HIV care; Any other reason or condition that in the opinion of the Investigator of Record (IOR) would interfere with participation, complicate interpretation of study outcome data, or otherwise interfere with achieving the study objectives. Men who have discordant HIV test results at Screening (i.e., at least one reactive or positive result and at least one non-reactive or negative result). These men will receive HIV counseling and will be referred for further diagnostic tests and care.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 44 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Observational<br>Observational study | Other: Observational<br>* HPTN 075 is an observational study in sub-Saharan MSM<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recruitment of approximately 400 participants | all 4 sites must collectively recruit 400 participants | July 2015-July 2016 | 
| Retention of approximately 400 participants | at least 90% of participants must be retained | July 2015-July 2016 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HIV incidence | Measured by HIV RNA from plasma samples | July 2015-July 2017 |