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Improving HIV testing, linkage, and retention in care for men through U=U messaging

Award Number: R01MH129223
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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Improving HIV testing, linkage, and retention in care for men through U=U messaging - PROJECT ABSTRACT Increasing the coverage of HIV testing and treatment among people living with HIV is essential for ending the global AIDS epidemic. Unfortunately, men living with HIV are less likely to know their HIV status, start anti-retroviral treatment, or achieve viral suppression. Given that new HIV infections are driven, in part, by men’s testing and treatment gaps, reducing this gap in testing uptake, treatment initiation and achievement of viral suppression by men must be prioritized in order to accelerate the decline in HIV incidence among all people, improve men’s HIV-related health outcomes and achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals by 2030. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of Undetectable Equals Untransmittable or “U=U” messaging for closing men’s gaps in the HIV cascade. The U=U message communicates the compelling idea that people living with HIV who take anti-retroviral therepy and have an undetectable viral load (<200 copies/mL) cannot sexually transmit HIV. Particularly for men, the U=U message has the potential to accelerate progress towards the 95-95-95 targets by: 1) reducing anxiety associated with HIV testing (1st 95); 2) encouraging people who test HIV-positive to initiate ART (2nd 95); and 3) reducing fear of transmitting HIV to sexual partners by promoting treatment adherence to achieve viral suppression (3rd 95). While there is a growing knowledge of Treatment as Prevention/U=U among people living with HIV in Western countries, the reach and penetration of the U=U message in sub-Saharan Africa has been limited and few studies have tested the impacted of accessible U=U messages on ART uptake and adherence in sub-Saharan Africa. Building on our prior work on U=U messaging informed by behavioral economics and human-centered design, we propose to conduct two hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trials to evaluate the impact of U=U messages on men’s uptake of community-based HIV testing and treatment initiation (Aim 1), and achievement of viral suppression (Aim 2). We will also conduct a multi-method evaluation to inform future implementation of U=U messaging interventions. To improve the generalizability of our findings, we will conduct our study in two provinces in South Africa (Western and Eastern Cape). If effective, our intervention can shape global HIV testing and treatment counselling guidelines and practices. Our expert, multi-institutional collaborations will allow us to apply previous research findings, leverage unique implementation platforms and resources, and rapidly disseminate our findings.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $531,304 )
2025	2025	DESMOND TUTU HEALTH FOUNDATION	3 WOODLANDS ROAD	CAPE TOWN	WESTERN CAPE			ZAF	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	8/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$531,304
														Subtotal = $531,304

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $538,198 )
2024	2024	DESMOND TUTU HEALTH FOUNDATION	3 WOODLANDS ROAD	CAPE TOWN	WESTERN CAPE			ZAF	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	5/23/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$538,198
														Subtotal = $538,198

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $543,668 )
2023	2023	DESMOND TUTU HEALTH FOUNDATION	3 WOODLANDS ROAD	CAPE TOWN	WESTERN CAPE			ZAF	Mental Health Research Grants	002	2	8/28/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$543,668
2023	2022	DESMOND TUTU HEALTH FOUNDATION	3 WOODLANDS ROAD	CAPE TOWN	WESTERN CAPE			ZAF	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	8/15/2023	NEW	$591,982
2023	2022	DESMOND TUTU HEALTH FOUNDATION	3 WOODLANDS ROAD	CAPE TOWN	WESTERN CAPE			ZAF	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	8/10/2023	NEW	-$591,982
														Subtotal = $543,668

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $591,982 )
2022	2022	DESMOND TUTU HIV FOUNDATION	FHS WERHNER BEIT NORTH ANZOI RD	CAPE TOWN				ZAF	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	5/24/2022	NEW	$532,984
2022	2022	DESMOND TUTU HIV FOUNDATION	FHS WERHNER BEIT NORTH ANZOI RD	CAPE TOWN				ZAF	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	9/21/2022	NEW	$58,998
														Subtotal = $591,982

Grand Total All Awards = $2,205,152

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Improving HIV testing, linkage, and retention in care for men through U=U messaging

Award Number: R01MH129223

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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