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Dietrich JJ, Benadé GL, Mulaudzi M, Kagee A, Hornschuh S, Makhale LM, Lemos MP, Lazarus E, Andrasik MP, Horvath KJ. "You Are on the Right Track With the App:" Qualitative Analysis of Mobile Phone Use and User Feedback Regarding Mobile Phone Sexual Risk Assessments for HIV Prevention Research. Front Digit Health 2021; 3:576514. [PMID: 34713080 PMCID: PMC8521804 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2021.576514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Accurate self-report of sexual behavior assists in identifying potential HIV exposure in HIV prevention trials. Brief mobile phone assessments, completed daily or after sexual activity, can improve the validity and reliability of self-reported sexual behavior and allow for remote survey completion outside of the clinic setting. We conducted a qualitative study to better understand participants mobile phone use and to explore their perspectives on how to improve an existing mobile application-based sexual risk assessment. Methods: Sexually active, HIV seronegative men (n = 14) and women (n = 15) aged 18–39 years were recruited through an HIV counseling and testing clinic and community outreach in Soweto, South Africa. We conducted qualitative research through four age-stratified focus group discussions (FGDs) and analyzed a brief socio-demographics and mobile phone access questionnaire. All participants completed a sexual risk assessment before the FGD. Using a framework analytic approach, data were coded with Nvivo software. Results: All participants had access to mobile phones and internet, and 27 (93.1%) were able to download applications on their personal phones. Participants preferred mobile risk assessments to be offered in a choice of South African languages, using formal language (as opposed to emojis), with straight-forward wording and limited to five to 10 questions. Most participants found it acceptable to complete the assessment once a week, on a weekday, while a few were willing to complete it after each sexual encounter. It was suggested that a message reminder to complete the assessment should be sent at least daily until it is completed. The majority agreed that a password-protected application with a discreet logo was ideal for privacy, ease of use and flexibility for completion in any setting. A concern with this format, however, was the potential data use requirement. Participants expressed privacy concerns with using SMS, WhatsApp and other social media for risk assessments. Most agreed on an airtime incentive between ZAR5-10 (USD 0.29–0.58) per survey. Participants encouraged researchers to provide feedback to them about their sexual risk. Conclusions: Completion of mobile phone sexual risk assessments can be optimized with minimal incentives by ensuring that questionnaires are simple, brief, infrequent and have trusted privacy measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janan J Dietrich
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Gabriella L Benadé
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mamakiri Mulaudzi
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ashraf Kagee
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Stefanie Hornschuh
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lerato M Makhale
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Maria P Lemos
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Erica Lazarus
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Michele P Andrasik
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Keith J Horvath
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
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Fischinger S, Shin S, Boudreau CM, Ackerman M, Rerks-Ngarm S, Pitisuttithum P, Nitayaphan S, Kim JH, Robb ML, Michael NL, O’Connell RJ, Vasan S, Streeck H, Alter G. Protein-based, but not viral vector alone, HIV vaccine boosting drives an IgG1-biased polyfunctional humoral immune response. JCI Insight 2020; 5:135057. [PMID: 32554928 PMCID: PMC7406243 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.135057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The RV144 HIV-1 vaccine trial results showed moderate reduction in viral infections among vaccinees as well as induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and vaccine-specific IgG and IgG3 responses directed at variable loop regions 1 and 2 of the HIV envelope protein. However, with the recent failure of the HVTN 702 clinical trial, comprehensive profiling of humoral immune responses may provide insight for these disappointing results. One of the changes included in the HVTN 702 study was the addition of a late boost, aimed at augmenting peak immunity and durability. The companion vaccine trial RV305 was designed to permit the evaluation of the immunologic impact of late boosting with either the boosting protein antigen alone, the canarypox viral vector ALVAC alone, or a combination of both. Although previous data showed elevated levels of IgG antibodies in both boosting arms, regardless of ALVAC-HIV vector incorporation, the effect on shaping antibody effector function remains unclear. Thus, here we analyzed the antibody and functional profile induced by RV305 boosting regimens and found that although IgG1 levels increased in both arms that included protein boosting, IgG3 levels were reduced compared with the original RV144 vaccine strategy. Most functional responses increased upon protein boosting, regardless of the viral vector-priming agent incorporation. These data suggest that the addition of a late protein boost alone is sufficient to increase functionally potent vaccine-specific antibodies previously associated with reduced risk of infection with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Fischinger
- Ragon Institute of MGH, Harvard and MGH, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Institut für HIV Forschung, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sally Shin
- Ragon Institute of MGH, Harvard and MGH, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carolyn M. Boudreau
- Ragon Institute of MGH, Harvard and MGH, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- PhD Program in Virology, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Margaret Ackerman
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | | | - Punnee Pitisuttithum
- Vaccine Trial Centre, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Merlin L. Robb
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Nelson L. Michael
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert J. O’Connell
- Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Sandhya Vasan
- Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Hendrik Streeck
- Institut für HIV Forschung, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Galit Alter
- Ragon Institute of MGH, Harvard and MGH, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Getting the shots: methods to gain adherence to a multi-dose vaccination program for inner city, drug-involved prostitution communities. J Prim Prev 2014; 35:93-102. [PMID: 24259082 DOI: 10.1007/s10935-013-0333-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Street-based sex-work and poly-substance drug use, coupled with low vaccination rates and limited utilization of the mainstream health care system, put the sex worker communities of Bogotá's city center at extreme risk of infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Vaccination is critical to maintaining low prevalence of the disease and low incidence of new cases, yet the floating and inconsistent nature of Bogotá's drug-involved female and transsexual prostitution communities make it difficult to complete a 3-dose vaccination program. Between December 2011 and March of 2012, the Fénix Foundation collaborated with the Bogotá Health Department to deliver free HBV vaccines to this vulnerable population. This paper outlines methods used in the vaccination program to generate a 37.7% adherence rate, significantly higher than that previously reported for HBV vaccination programs also targeting marginalized populations. This program's practices are based on the Fénix peer leader method, and are offered as a model that can be applied to other health interventions operating in analogous contexts, with similarly high-risk populations.
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