NIMH Project Accept (HPTN 043) HIV/AIDS community mobilization (CM) to promote mobile HIV voluntary counseling and testing (MVCT) in rural communities in Northern Thailand: modifications by experience

AIDS Behav. 2012 Jul;16(5):1227-37. doi: 10.1007/s10461-011-0099-4.

Abstract

Project Accept is a RCT designed to test the efficacy of community mobilization (CM), mobile voluntary counseling and testing (MVCT), and post-test support services (PTSS) in reducing HIV incidence in three African countries and Thailand. The intervention started in rural areas, northern Thailand in January 2006. CM initially included door-to-door visits during the daytime, small group discussions and joining organized meetings and followed by MVCT. In February 2007, CM strategy using HIV/AIDS "edutainment" (education and entertainment) during evening hours was introduced. After edutainment was initiated, the number of participants increased substantially. VCT uptake increased from 18 to 28 persons/day on average (t test; t = 7.87 P < 0.0001). Edutainment especially motivated younger people, as the median age of VCT clients decreased from 38 to 35 years old (median test; z = 6.74, P < 0.0001). Providing free MVCT in community settings along with edutainment during evening hours increased VCT uptake and was particularly attractive to younger adults.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Community Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Directive Counseling / methods*
  • Female
  • HIV Seropositivity / diagnosis*
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • HIV Seropositivity / therapy
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Mobile Health Units* / organization & administration
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Rural Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Rural Population
  • Thailand / epidemiology
  • Young Adult