HPTN 096 was developed and built upon a community-centered approach. The study team recognized, through community forums and community input, the need for a multilevel, comprehensive community engagement strategy.
A stakeholder mapping exercise was executed to determine appropriate stakeholders at each level of engagement, and how much engagement, communication or consideration would be needed. This process allowed better prioritization of stakeholders and for focused efforts at each individual level of engagement in the most impactful way.
Levels of Engagement
General Awareness
Community engagement for the purposes of general awareness-building during the pilot will focus on the creation of awareness that will be demonstrated through community acceptability of the study along with the formation and utilization of the Community Advisory Group (CAG).
Community Advisory Group: The CAG is comprised of local gate keepers who are embedded in study communities. CAG members will work locally to establish relationships and find ways to create new stakeholder engagement and awareness opportunities for HPTN 096.
Study-Specific Community Engagement
Each study component will involve tailored community engagement activities for the purposes of gaining participation in, awareness of, or acceptability for each component. These community engagement activities are largely integrated into the activities of the study component itself, and as such, the success of community engagement as it relates to specific components will be assessed from a subset of pilot outcome measures already identified for each component.