HIV Testing in African American Churches: Results from the Taking It to the Pews Cluster-Randomized Trial

Abstract

To examine effects of a multilevel, religiously-tailored HIV testing intervention, Taking It to the Pews (TIPS), on receipt of HIV testing with African American church-affiliated populations, 14 African American churches (N = 1,491) were randomized to TIPS or a multilevel, non-tailored HIV education attention-control arm in a cluster-randomized trial (Kansas City urban area, 2013 to 2019). Receipt of an HIV test was examined using objective data and participant self-reports (last 12 months), including self-reported exposure to intervention components. Overall, 471 HIV tests were completed; TIPS intervention churches conducted significantly more tests than controls (339 versus 132, p = 0.003). Also, a larger proportion of intervention participants self-reported receipt of an HIV test than controls (38% versus 34%). Participants in intervention churches self-reported exposure to an average of 7 of 14 different intervention arm HIV-related activities; activities with the most exposures were printed information/posters (71%), resource tables (70%), sermons (63%), and health professional or HIV-positive speakers (60%). Odds of HIV testing increased 47% for each additional intervention exposure reported. African American faith communities delivering a multilevel, religiously-tailored HIV testing intervention can significantly impact receipt of HIV testing with African American church-affiliated populations.Trial registration number and date: NCT02529644 Aug 06 2015.

Keywords: African Americans; Community engagement; Faith-based; HIV testing.