HIV Infections
Conditions
Brief summary
SHAG is a text messaging-based HIV prevention program designed for cisgender sexual minority boys and men 13-20 years of age across the United States. Investigators will test it against a control group that receives messages about healthy lifestyle.
Detailed description
SHAG is a text messaging-based HIV prevention program designed for cisgender sexual minority boys and men 13-20 years of age across the United States. Investigators will test it against a control group that receives messages about healthy lifestyle. Harnessing the power of technology, young people will be recruited online and largely enrolled digitally. The main outcome of interest is HIV incidence. The impact of the intervention on STI testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) will also be examined.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSexual health advocacy for guys
5 month HIV prevention program delivered via text messaging
BEHAVIORALHealthy lifestyle control
5 month control group program delivered via text messaging
Sponsors
Center for Innovative Public Health Research
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
Control group content is written to affect an experience as if one were in the intervention group.
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomized to either the intervention or control group
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
13 Years to 22 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. have been assigned male sex at birth and currently have a cisgender identity; 2. be aged 13-22 years old; 3. have had anal sex in the past 12 months; 4. be English-speaking; 5. exclusively own a cell phone with an unlimited text messaging plan and intend to have the same cell phone number for the next 6 months; 6. have Internet access to complete online surveys; 7. provide informed assent for those under 18, and consent for those 18 years of age and older, including a capacity to consent and a positive self-safety assessment; 8. Willing to take an OraQuick home test to confirm HIV negativity for youth who are 19-20 years of age or 18 years old and graduated high school. If they agree to do the test but do not upload a photo of their result, they will be eligible if they self-report a negative sero-status. Youth 18 years old who have not graduated high school, and 13-17 years of age will be asked to take a home test. If they determine that they cannot do so safely, they will be allowed to self-report their sero-status; and 9. not currently enrolled in another HIV prevention program; or 10. know anyone already enrolled in the RCT.
Exclusion criteria
* Being HIV positive
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| HIV Incidence | 12-months post-intervention and immediately post-intervention | HIV Incidence determined by home testing kit |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-reported HIV incidence | Post-Intervention, 3-months post, 6-months post, 9-months post, 12-month post | Self-reported HIV Status |
| Proportion of Participants Testing for an STI | 12-month post intervention and immediately post-intervention | This outcome will be measured as a cumulative indicator of whether the individual has tested for an STI |
| Proportion of Participants having used PrEP/PEP | 12-month post-Intervention and immediately post-intervention | This outcome will be measured as a cumulative indicator of whether the individual has used pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed