title: Mobile VCT: reaching men and young people in urban and rural South African pilot studies (NIMH Project Accept, HPTN 043).
abstract: Mounting evidence exists that mobile voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is able to extend coverage to new localities and populations. We describe two feasibility and acceptability pilot studies conducted in rural and urban South Africa in preparation for the larger NIMH Project Accept HIV prevention trial. A total of 1,015 individuals participated in the pilot studies. Participants in rural Vulindlela were younger (median 22 years) compared to urban Soweto (p < 0.001). Young people were more likely to be first time testers in both sites (p = 0.01 in Vulindlela, p < 0.001 in Soweto), with significantly more men likely to be first time testers than women (p = 0.01 in Vulindlela, p < 0.001 in Soweto). User satisfaction with mobile VCT was extremely high in both sites. Our study shows that providing mobile, high-quality and easy to access services in a high prevalence context is a feasible way to engage youth, men and more rural populations in HIV counselling and testing.
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB Unit, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa, hvanrooyen@hsrc.ac.za.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Rooyen
authors.forename: Nuala
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Admire
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chirowodza
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiamma
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coates
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*