Willingness to volunteer in future HIV vaccine clinical trials: A literature review and evidence synthesis

Abstract

Context: Developing an effective vaccine for HIV/AIDS is a global endeavor requiring the participation of willing volunteers. Aims: To evaluate the willingness of the global population to undergo vaccination and participate in clinical trials. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, relevant studies published from January 2005 to December 2019 that reported quantitative, qualitative, and mixed analyses in peer-reviewed research papers were sought in the major databases. The inclusion criteria were that the studies be related to the willingness of participants to undergo HIV vaccination and submit to subsequent clinical trials, that they are in English, conducted in any geographic location, and published during the target period. The exclusion criteria were grey literature and studies involving the stakeholders, medical students or medical fraternities, seropositive parents with seronegative offspring, the vaccine’s biochemical, immunological, or financial aspects, and participants below the age of 16. Systematic reviews, letters to the editor, and case studies were also excluded. Results: The selected databases initially yielded 334 articles, of which 27 remained after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic data, motivating factors, and the volunteers’ willingness levels were collected and analyzed. Conclusions: This review offers guidance for future research, including a standardized scale to predict the willingness of potential volunteer groups.

Nondisclosure of HIV-positive Status: A Cross-sectional Survey in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

“…A similar reason resulting from a lack of trust in friends to keep secret from family could be accounted for why about two more divorced couples are less likely to disclose their HIV-positive status to their friends. In the study of Huyen et al [19], it was uncovered that though there was a positive relationship between HIV-positive status disclosure and testing uptake of spouses, there was an absence of signi cant correlation between HIV disclosure and married couples; a rming the ndings of this study that disclosure of HIV positive status by spouses is not common.…”

“…Cultural factors including traditional practices (98%) were also the main reasons that prevented HIV-positive status disclosure. The shame of being seen as sex promiscuous while married is a sign of bad behavior that is detested by family members [19]. A family attributes disgrace to sex promiscuous behavior that leads to their mockery and disregard by others outside the family.…”

“…The ndings of this study are similar to the ndings of several other studies. For instance, a study conducted in the Netherlands by Stutterheim, Huyen et al [19] revealed that employees living with HIV were unwilling to disclose their HIV status to their friends or colleagues at work because others whose HIV status was known were treated badly by their colleagues and management of the job. Nonetheless, the study of Matodzi et al [20] which was conducted in Tanzania identi ed that about 52% and 48% of employees whose HIV-positive status was known were given health and social support.…”