Effectiveness of health care workers and peer engagement in promoting access to health services among population at higher risk for HIV in Tanzania (KPHEALTH): study protocol for a quasi experimental trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effectiveness of health care workers and peer engagement in promoting access to health services among population at higher risk for HIV in Tanzania (KPHEALTH)

T2 - study protocol for a quasi experimental trial

AU - Mmbaga, Elia John

AU - Leyna, Germana Henry

AU - Leshabari, Melkizedeck Thomas

AU - Tersbøl, Britt

AU - Lange, Theis

AU - Makyao, Neema

AU - Moen, Kåre

AU - Meyrowitsch, Dan Wolf

PY - 2019/11/6

Y1 - 2019/11/6

N2 - Background: While there are indications of declining HIV infection rates in the general population globally, Tanzania included, men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and people who inject drugs (PWID), now called Key Populations (KP) for HIV epidemic have 2-20 times higher infections rates and contributes up to 30% of new HIV infection. Tanzania have developed a Comprehensive Guideline for HIV prevention among key population (CHIP) to address the epidemic among KPs. However, these populations are stigmatized and discriminated calling for innovative approaches to improve access to CHIP. This project seeks to test the effectiveness of healthcare workers and peer-to-peer engagement in promoting access to CHIP among HIV at risk populations in Tanzania. Methods: A quasi-experimental design involving Dar es Salaam City as an intervention region and Tanga as a control region will be done. Using respondent driven sampling, 1800 at risk population (900 from Intervention site and 900 from control site) will be recruited at baseline to identify pull and push factors for health services access. Stakeholder's consultation will be done to improve training contents for CHIP among health care workers and peers. Effectiveness of healthcare workers training and peer engagement will be tested using a quasi-experimental design. Discussion: The results are expected to co-create service provision and improve access to services among KPs as a human right, reverse HIV infection rates among KPs and the general population, and improve social and economic wellbeing of Tanzanian. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered on 28th August, 2019 with International Standard Randomized Clinical Trial Number (ISRCTN11126469).

AB - Background: While there are indications of declining HIV infection rates in the general population globally, Tanzania included, men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and people who inject drugs (PWID), now called Key Populations (KP) for HIV epidemic have 2-20 times higher infections rates and contributes up to 30% of new HIV infection. Tanzania have developed a Comprehensive Guideline for HIV prevention among key population (CHIP) to address the epidemic among KPs. However, these populations are stigmatized and discriminated calling for innovative approaches to improve access to CHIP. This project seeks to test the effectiveness of healthcare workers and peer-to-peer engagement in promoting access to CHIP among HIV at risk populations in Tanzania. Methods: A quasi-experimental design involving Dar es Salaam City as an intervention region and Tanga as a control region will be done. Using respondent driven sampling, 1800 at risk population (900 from Intervention site and 900 from control site) will be recruited at baseline to identify pull and push factors for health services access. Stakeholder's consultation will be done to improve training contents for CHIP among health care workers and peers. Effectiveness of healthcare workers training and peer engagement will be tested using a quasi-experimental design. Discussion: The results are expected to co-create service provision and improve access to services among KPs as a human right, reverse HIV infection rates among KPs and the general population, and improve social and economic wellbeing of Tanzanian. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered on 28th August, 2019 with International Standard Randomized Clinical Trial Number (ISRCTN11126469).

KW - Men who have sex with men

KW - Sex work

KW - Injecting drugs

KW - Health services access

KW - HIV

KW - Tanzania

U2 - 10.1186/s12913-019-4675-z

DO - 10.1186/s12913-019-4675-z

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31694616

SN - 1472-6963

VL - 19

JO - B M C Health Services Research

JF - B M C Health Services Research

M1 - 801

ER -