Study populations
RECRUITMENT, NAIROBI
All three SiVETs, following the hypothetical procedures of an HIV vaccine efficacy trial, aimed to enroll key and vulnerable populations at elevated risk of HIV acquisition. Each site followed a similar visit schedule and study procedures but focused on different populations based on site experience and expertise. The Uganda sites in Entebbe and Kampala enrolled fisher folk and FSWs respectively while the Kenya site in Nairobi enrolled FSWs and MSM. The study teams worked closely with community leadership, peer leaders, and existing Community Advisory Boards (CABs) to identify and educate potential participants and ensure that recruitment procedures were acceptable. Study information was given through community information seminars, on-site participant meetings and during the CAB meetings. The Kampala and Nairobi study teams enrolled from pre-existing cohorts and the Entebbe study team enrolled from fishing communities. Interested participants were told about eligibility criteria (e.g., at risk of HIV acquisition) and invited for study screening.