Standard-of-Care Arm (Control Arm)
syphilis
SYPHILIS
The control arm consisted of a standard peer syphilis testing service delivered through facilities. In this arm, each eligible index MSM initially received three information packages to distribute to social contacts within his network (defined as alters) after completing their baseline survey. Each information package contained: (1) a crowdsourced peer notification card; (2) a health promotion and linkage to care information card; and (3) a syphilis testing result report card. The peer notification card contained healthcare provider location and information, which each alter could use to receive free syphilis screening in a list of nearby facilities in each study site. The health promotion card contained information on the risk of acquiring syphilis, the importance of screening for syphilis, and a link to resources of national syphilis Voluntary Counseling & Testing sites. A result report card contained a QR code that allowed alters to be added to our public WeChat account (as a contact), with which they could scan and upload the photographs of syphilis testing results anonymously and privately and receive online counseling services. Each alter could use a maximum of one package and take one free facility-based syphilis testing service through peer notification card from each index.