A Field Experiment to Assess the Demand for HIV Self-Tests in Zimbabwe

University of Pennsylvania

Status: Completed

Conditions: HIV/AIDS

Treatments: Behavioral: Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03559959

MRCZ/A/2199

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is a field experiment in peri-urban and rural communities near Harare, Zimbabwe, that seeks to estimate the likelihood that individuals will purchase HIV self-tests under various pricing and distribution strategies. About 4,000 adults will be randomly selected, administered a short questionnaire, and given vouchers that will offer them HIV self-tests at randomly allocated prices and distribution sites. The study will also test whether the provision of HIV self-tests can be targeted more cost-effectively to reach high-risk persons and non- recent testers. Last, the study will explore whether demand for repeated HIV self-testing is contingent on the price offered initially.

Full description

This study is a field experiment that seeks to obtain "revealed preference" estimates of the likelihood that individuals will purchase oral fluid-based HIV self-tests at alternative prices. Such an approach is useful for estimating the price sensitivity (or elasticity) of demand for HIV self-tests. The study will also estimate the extent to which demand for self-tests differs by certain distribution channels such as retail outlets, public sector health facilities, and other community-based venues. Importantly, the experiment will also test whether the provision of HIV self-tests can be targeted more cost-effectively to reach high-risk persons and non-recent testers by examining the demand for self-tests in these populations in responses to various prices and distribution strategies. The results of the study will provide vital information required by policy makers and implementers on the optical pricing and distribution strategies for introducing HIV self-tests and scaling up HIVST in resource-limited settings. In a subsequent study with additional funding, the study will also seek to determine the long-term implications of offering self-tests at very low prices initially; specifically, it will assess whether free distribution initially suppresses individuals' willingness to pay for self-tests in the future. Roughly 12 months after the initial voucher offer, participants who provided a mobile phone number they can access within their household will be contacted via phone-based text messages and offered the same HIV self-tests again at one common non-zero price. The purchases at 12 months will once again be monitored and linked to participants via a unique identifier that is included in the text messages.

Enrollment: 4,000 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 16 years or older
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent for participation
• Intends to stay in the study area for at least 12 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Screening

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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4,000 participants in 5 patient groups

$0 price

Experimental group

Description:

Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits: Individuals will receive a voucher that can be used to redeem an HIV self-testing kit free of charge.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits

$0.5 price

Experimental group

Description:

Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits: Individuals will receive a voucher that can be used to purchase an HIV self-testing kit at the price of $0.5.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits

$1 price

Experimental group

Description:

Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits: Individuals will receive a voucher that can be used to purchase an HIV self-testing kit at the price of $1.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits

$2 price

Experimental group

Description:

Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits: Individuals will receive a voucher that can be used to purchase an HIV self-testing kit at the price of $2.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits

$3 price

Experimental group

Description:

Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits: Individuals will receive a voucher that can be used to purchase an HIV self-testing kit at the price of $3.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Vouchers for HIV self-testing kits