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Willingness of adolescents to participate in future HIV prevention trials
J. Dietrich1, K. Otwombe2, M. Khunwane1, M. Van Der Watt3, G. De Bruyn4, K. Sikkema5, G. Gray6
1Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), Adolescent programme, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), Statistics, Johannesburg, South Africa, 3Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), Data Management, Johannesburg, South Africa, 4Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), Programme Director, Johannesburg, South Africa, 5Duke University, Psychology and Neuroscience, Durham, United States, 6Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), Executive Director, Johannesburg, South Africa
Background: The incidence and prevalence of HIV infection among adolescents and young adults in South Africa is high. Despite current prevention efforts, HIV infection rates have not shown a significant decline. Should a biomedical intervention be efficacious with adults it will be critical to test this product in adolescents and young adults. We examined adolescent willingness to participate in future HIV prevention trials.
Methods: The willingness to participate questionnaire formed part of a larger survey conducted with 16-18 year old adolescents living in Soweto, an urban African setting. Participants were asked about their perceived risk of HIV and their willingness to participate in HIV prevention trials which included behavioural trials, microbicide, vaccine and circumcision trials. Data was analysed using SAS 9.1.3
Results: In total 302 questionnaires were administered with a sample of 175 females and 127 males between 16 and 18 years (median age = 17). 93% (n=282) reported ever having a girlfriend/boyfriend, 53% (n=88) of the females and 47% (n=79) of the males reported sexual activity (vaginal, anal and/or oral sex). 31 % (n=96) reported that they were likely to become infected with HIV while 45% (n=138) of the participants indicated that they were not at all likely to become infected with HIV. Analysis showed an association between condom use and perceived risk of HIV (p=0.003) as well as an association between gender and willingness to participate in HIV prevention trials (p=0.009). 91% (n=273) indicated willingness to participate in vaccine trials. 70% of the participants thought that adolescents in their community would be willing to participate in a vaccine trial. 89% (n=155) of females indicated a willingness to participate in microbicide trials while 77% (n=98) of the males indicated willingness to participate in circumcision trials.
Conclusions: The findings show encouraging results of adolescent willingness to participate in future HIV prevention trials.
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