Experiences of Social Harm and Changes in Sexual Practices among Volunteers Who Had Completed a Phase I/II HIV Vaccine Trial Employing HIV-1 DNA Priming and HIV-1 MVA Boosting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

There is limited information about sexual behavior among volunteers who participated in phase I/II human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine trial. This article describes the sexual behavior, practices before, and after participation in phase I/II HIV vaccine trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study involving volunteers who participated in the phase I/II vaccine trial between 2007 and 2010. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit potential informants. Twenty-four in-depth interviews were conducted. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic content analysis approach. The findings revealed that before participation in the HIV vaccine trial, informants were engaging in unprotected multiple sexual relationships. After the completion of the HIV vaccine trial, informants reported strengthened marital relationships, increased understanding of safer sexual practices, and HIV testing. However, the informants reported challenges regarding vaccine-induced seropositivity that adversely affected their sexual and marital relationships. Some informants re-engaged in risky sexual practices because they perceived the experimental vaccine was protective. The informants suggested having continued interventions within the community to enhance safer sexual practices. Participation in phase I/II HIV vaccine trials may positively and negatively influence changes in volunteers’ sexual behaviors and practices. The trial interventions appear to improve compliance with safer sexual practices. However, the reported vaccine-induced seropositivity and the perception that experimental vaccines are protective need further appropriate interventions.

Download Full-text

Motivations to participate in a Phase I/II HIV vaccine trial: A descriptive study from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-016-2875-6 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E. A. M. Tarimo ◽

M. Bakari ◽

D. C. V. Kakoko ◽

T. W. Kohi ◽

F. Mhalu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase I ◽

Vaccine Trial ◽

Descriptive Study ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

Hiv Vaccine

Download Full-text

Willingness to volunteer in a Phase I/II HIV vaccine trial: a study among police officers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Global Health Action ◽

10.3402/gha.v2i0.1953 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 1953 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Edith A. M. Tarimo ◽

Anna Thorson ◽

Muhammad Bakari ◽

Joachim Mwami ◽

Eric Sandström ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase I ◽

Police Officers ◽

Vaccine Trial ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

Hiv Vaccine

Download Full-text

Post-HIV vaccine trials’ misperception and associated factors among participating communities in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Tanzania Journal of Health Research ◽

10.4314/thrb.v21i1.8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Edith Andrew Mroso Tarimo ◽

Candida Moshiro ◽

Joel Ambikile ◽

Patricia Munseri ◽

Muhammad Bakari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase I ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Vaccine Trial ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

Hiv Vaccine ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adjusted Risk ◽

Hiv Vaccine Trials ◽

Vaccine Trials

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.

Download Full-text

Reasons for Declining to Enroll in a Phase I and II HIV Vaccine Trial after Randomization among Eligible Volunteers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0014619 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. e14619 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Edith A. M. Tarimo ◽

Anna Thorson ◽

Thecla W. Kohi ◽

Muhammad Bakari ◽

Fred Mhalu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase I ◽

Vaccine Trial ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

Hiv Vaccine ◽

Phase I And Ii

Download Full-text

Experiences on recruitment and retention of volunteers in the first HIV vaccine trial in Dar es Salam, Tanzania - the phase I/II HIVIS 03 trial

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/1471-2458-13-1149 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Muhammad Bakari ◽

Patricia Munseri ◽

Joel Francis ◽

Eric Aris ◽

Candida Moshiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase I ◽

Vaccine Trial ◽

Hiv Vaccine ◽

Recruitment And Retention

Download Full-text

V2-Specific Antibodies in HIV-1 Vaccine Research and Natural Infection: Controllers or Surrogate Markers

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9080526 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 526 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Duerr ◽

Gorny

Keyword(s):

Vaccine Efficacy ◽

Natural Infection ◽

Vaccine Trial ◽

Clinical Findings ◽

Hiv Vaccine ◽

Model Systems ◽

Potential Contribution ◽

Vaccine Research ◽

Specific Antibodies ◽

Hiv 1

Most human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine trials have lacked efficacy and empirical vaccine lead targets are scarce. Thus far, the only independent correlate of reduced risk of HIV-1 acquisition in humans is elevated levels of V2-specific antibodies identified in the modestly protective RV144 vaccine trial. Ten years after RV144, human and non-human primate vaccine studies have reassessed the potential contribution of V2-specific antibodies to vaccine efficacy. In addition, studies of natural HIV-1 infection in humans have provided insight into the development of V1V2-directed antibody responses and their impact on clinical parameters and disease progression. Functionally diverse anti-V2 monoclonal antibodies were isolated and their structurally distinct V2 epitope regions characterized. After RV144, a plethora of research studies were performed using different model systems, immunogens, protocols, and challenge viruses. These diverse studies failed to provide a clear picture regarding the contribution of V2 antibodies to vaccine efficacy. Here, we summarize the biological functions and clinical findings associated with V2-specific antibodies and discuss their impact on HIV vaccine research.

Download Full-text