Uptake of genital mucosal sampling in HVTN 097, a phase 1b HIV vaccine trial in South Africa.
Because sexual transmission of HIV occurs across mucosal membranes, understanding the immune responses of the genital mucosa to vaccines may contribute knowledge to finding an effective candidate HIV vaccine. We describe the uptake of rectal secretion, cervical secretion and seminal mucosal secretion sampling amongst volunteers in a Phase 1b HIV vaccine trial. Age at screening, gender, study site and the designation of the person conducting the informed consent procedure were collected for volunteers who screened for the HVTN 097 study. A total of 211 volunteers (54% female) were screened at three sites in South Africa: Soweto (n = 70, 33%), Cape Town (n = 68, 32%) and Klerksdorp (n = 73, 35%). Overall uptake of optional mucosal sampling amongst trial volunteers was 71% (n = 149). Compared to Cape Town, volunteers from Soweto and Klerksdorp were less likely to consent to sampling (Soweto OR 0.08 CI: 0.03-0.25 p<0.001 and Klerksdorp OR 0.13 CI: 0.04-0.41 p = 0.001). In contrast, volunteers over 25 years of age were 2.39 times more likely to consent than younger volunteers (CI: 1.13-5.08, p = 0.02). Further studies are required to better understand the cultural, demographic and sociobehavioral factors which influence willingness to participate in mucosal sampling in HIV prevention studies.


BACKGROUND
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02109354.
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Erica Maxine
EM
Lazarus
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kennedy
K
Otwombe
The Aurum Institute, Klerksdorp, South Africa.
Tania
T
Adonis
Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Elaine
E
Sebastian
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Glenda
G
Gray
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Nicole
N
Grunenberg
Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Surita
S
Roux
The Aurum Institute, Klerksdorp, South Africa.
Gavin
G
Churchyard
The Aurum Institute, Klerksdorp, South Africa.
Craig
C
Innes
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Fatima
F
Laher
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013048:Specimen Handling; D055815:Young Adult
D016915:AIDS Vaccines