Open AccessPost-HIV vaccine trials’ misperception and associated factors among participating communities in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Author(s) -
Edith Tarimo,
Candida Moshiro,
Joel Seme Ambikile,
Patricia Munseri,
Muhammad Bakari,
Ezekiel Matola,
Hamisa Mangara,
Theodora Mbunda,
Mary Ngatoluwa,
Kisali Pallangyo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
tanzania journal of health research/tanzania journal of health research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1821-6404
pISSN - 1821-9241
DOI - 10.4314/thrb.v21i1.8
Subject(s) - tanzania , hiv vaccine , vaccine trial , medicine , dar es salaam , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , family medicine , clinical trial , environmental health , geography , environmental planning
Background: Despite the successful conduct of three Phase I/II HIV vaccine trials in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, misperception around the trials has been reported. In this study, misperception means incorrect understanding that in Phase I/II HIV vaccine trial, the researchers infected the volunteers with HIV. We describe the magnitude of misperception around HIV vaccine trials and associated factors among participating communities in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study that included 605 respondents aged ³18 years from the communities that participated in Phase I/II HIV vaccine trials. These communities comprised of youths, Police and Prison officers. Respondents were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, HIV knowledge, and responses to HIV vaccine trial related questions.
Results: Of the 605 respondents, 156 (26%) had misperception that the researchers infected the volunteers with HIV during the trials, while 58% weren’t sure whether the researchers infected the volunteers with the HIV or not. Awareness about progress in HIV vaccine development (adjusted risk ratio (RR)=1.50; 95% CI=1.11 – 2.04), participation in an HIV vaccine sensitization meeting (adjusted RR=1.50; 95% CI=1.14-1.97) and advanced secondary education (adjusted RR=1.92; 95% CI=1.19 – 3.09) were associated with an increased likelihood of having the misperception that researchers infected the volunteers. Nevertheless, the majority (94.5%) of respondents showed a willingness to know more about ongoing HIV vaccine studies while about 44.3% had reservations of taking part in HIV vaccine trials due to fear of getting HIV from the vaccine.
Conclusions: The misperception that researchers infected volunteers with HIV in Phase I/II trial is significant and was associated with respondents’ awareness about HIV vaccine development, participation in sensitization meetings and advanced education. Partial knowledge about HIV vaccine trials was of note. Future HIV vaccine trials should strive to address the knowledge gap.