Caregiver-Assisted Oral Fluid-based HIV Screening in Children: Zambia

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of a caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV test to screen children for HIV in Zambia. The results of this study are intended to support expanded access to HIV testing and treatment services for children, and to ensure that all newly diagnosed children are linked to clinical care.

Rationale: Globally, there are 1.8 million children living with HIV (CLHIV); however, despite great progress over the past 15 years, only 52% are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), leaving approximately 864,000 children in need of treatment. According to the ZAMPHIA study, only 50.6% of HIV-positive Zambian children aged 0-14 years knew their HIV status (UNAIDS 1st 90). Pediatric case finding is the first and, critical step to close the pediatric ART gap. In Zambia, there are an estimated 25,920 CLHIV in need of HIV treatment. Reaching this population is challenging, because children are dependent on parents and caregivers to access HIV testing services. Parents and caregivers often face logistical, societal and other barriers that limit the uptake of testing services for children. In order to achieve the second and third UNAIDS 95 targets of pediatric HIV treatment coverage and viral load suppression to reach epidemic control, country programs need to utilize increasingly targeted and innovative testing modalities to optimize the identification CLHIV. Saliva-based screening tests may present a safe and reliable way to identify children living with HIV that can expand access to this essential service in resource-limited settings where most CLHIV reside. Methods: The study will have a cross-sectional cluster sampling design, in which large facilities in two provinces will be selected using probability-proportional-to-size (PPS) sampling. Within each of 15 selected facilities, adult index parent/caregivers who are the parent/caregivers of approximately 200 children will be recruited to accept oral fluid-based HIV test kits for their children. There will be 3000 participants in the sample. Index parent/caregivers will be consented to participate in the study, given a number of OTKs corresponding to the number of children eligible for testing, followed up to confirm saliva-based test (SBT) results, participate in a testing experience survey, and return the OTK. All children screening HIV-positive will receive active linkage to confirmatory diagnostic testing, and treatment services for newly diagnosed HIV-positive children. In addition to these data, a sample (n=445) of caregivers will be asked questions regarding their experiences with administering the screening kit on their children.