Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02669 IS HIV TESTING IN HIV PREVENTION TRIALS ACCEPTABLE? RESULTS FROM A STUDY IN SOWETO

Delany, Sinead
Fakude G, Metsileng D, Nkala B, Moyes J, Rees H
Microbicide Development Programme,Reproductive Health Research Unit (University of Witwatersrand, South Africa)

Introduction: HIV remains a public health priority in South Africa, and interventions to prevent the spread of HIV, particularly in young women, are urgently needed. Microbicides represent one possible option for a female-controlled method of HIV prevention. In order to demonstrate that an intervention is effective in preventing HIV, trials are required to recruit large number of HIV negative participants. There are concerns that the requirement for HIV testing at enrolment may discourage participants from participating in these trials. A feasibility study was conducted among family planning clients in Soweto to determine factors which might influence enrolment in a Phase III clinical trial.

Methods: Socio-demographic and behavioural data was collected during a screening visit conducted in the community to identify persons eligible for HIV testing and subsequent enrolment at the study clinic. This data was analysed to determine particular factors which might be responsible for influencing women’s attendance for voluntary counselling and testing at the study clinic. Significant variables associated with willingness to test were combined in a multivariate analysis using logistic regression to identify factors which predict willingness to test for HIV.

Results: Over 1974 participants have been screened to date, 89% of whom were eligible for further screening. Despite concerns that the requirement for HIV testing would be a disincentive for enrolment in trials, 95% of those interviewed said that they were willing to test for HIV. 43% had previously been tested for HIV. The main reason for willingness to test was that participants wanted to know their HIV status (89%) because they felt at risk for HIV (57%). The main reason that participants felt at risk was because they did not use condoms all the time. Most of those that did not want to test (5%) were afraid of the result (68%). Type of housing and having at least one child were associated with a willingness to test for HIV in a multivariate analysis.

Discussion: These results suggest that women are interested in HIV prevention research, and are willing to test for HIV because they consider themselves to be at risk for HIV. Women who have children may be more willing to test because they wish to plan for the future. Type of housing may be an indicator of social stability, hence the finding that those that live in formal housing were more likely to want to test for HIV. However, high risk populations like young women or economically disadvantaged women may be missed by current approaches.

Conclusion: Although HIV testing appears to be widely acceptable to women in Soweto, there may be sub-populations at higher risk for HIV who may be less willing to test for HIV. Alternative recruitment and testing strategies need to be developed to include these higher risk groups.

Sinead Delany
RHRU, DEPT O&G, CH Baragwanath Hospital, P O Bertsham 2013, South Africa
(Telephone) +27-11-989-9220 (Fax) +27-11-933-1227 (E-mail) s.delany@rhrujhb.co.za