Standard of care for HIV prevention technology research: a consensus document from Nigeria

Tóm tắt

Aim: A framework of care includes the notion that care is that received from outside an individual and nurtures its body and soul. Defining care and the context of providing it is difficult especially with the ever changing and evolving field like that found operational in the HIV and AIDS research field. The standard of care for HIV and AIDS prevention trials continues to evolve and countries/communities are encouraged to define locally relevant standard of care guidelines. The paper reports on the consensus reached by stakeholders in Nigeria on the standard of care to be provided during HIV prevention research. It is an attempt by the community of stakeholders involved with New HIV Prevention Technology trials in Nigeria to define the standard of care for HIV prevention research in Nigeria.

Method: Four consultative meetings involving policy makers, the national government and government agencies, representatives of donor communities, regulatory agencies in the country, community advocates, people living with HIV/AIDS, sex workers, people who engage in sae sex practices, researchers, women, youths, journalists and organizations that serve these various communities, were held. This is a report of the consensus reached on the standard of care for HIV prenvention in Nigeria.

Results: Such obligations include the provision of counselling and testing for trial participants throughout the trial and during the post trial period using the most sensitive and specific test kits for the most prevalent HIV strains in the country. ART provision should also be provided for trial participants who seroconvert during the trial by the sponsors after which the trial participants are rolled unto the national governments’ ART programme. Researchers and sponsors also have defined obligatory responsibilities to volunteers who screen out of the trial and to trial participants’ spouse. The report also defines good research practice with respect to access to health care services as well as moral obligatory responsibilities of researchers and sponsors to trial participants.

Conclusion: The consensus on standard of care for HIV prevention research in Nigeria is a step forward with respect to mapping the path for future HIV prevention research in Nigeria is a step forward with respect to mapping the path for future HIV preventive research in the country. As emerging issues emerge, there will be a need to review and define these standards again.

Keywords: Care; standard; prevention; Nigeria

Résumé
Dans cette circonscription, inclut la notion que le soin qui est reçu de dehors et nourrit par le corps et l’âme ; définir les soins et le contexte d’approvisionnement est la difficulté avec le changement et les problèmes opérationnels sur le terrain de recherché sur le VIH/SIDA. Les soins standards des essais de prévention du VIH/SIDA continuent et les pays/communautés sont encouragés à définir localement le guide standard important pour ces soins. Ce document est un sommaire d’un tel essai par des promoteurs de la communauté impliqué dans la nouvelle technologie d’essai de prévention au Nigeria. Le rapport identifiait quelles sont les responsabilités obligatoires de la recherche et les sponsors vis à vis des participants pendant les essais de prévention du VIH. Telles obligations incluent les conseils et test de dépistage et d’essai aux participants pendant et après la durée de l’essai utilisant les instruments très sensibles et spécifiques sur les souches du VIH les plus prévalent dans le pays. L’approvisionnement en ARV doit être apporté aux participants qui changent de séroconversion pendant l’essai par les sponsors après que les participants ont été recrutés dans le programme national des ARV. Les chercheurs et les sponsors aussi doivent définir leurs responsabilités obligatoires aux volontaires sélectionnés pour cet essai et leurs épouses. Egalement, ce rapport définit les bonnes pratiques en recherche avec le respect à l’accès aux services de santé des participants bien que les responsabilités obligatoires morales des chercheurs et des sponsors.

Correspondence: Dr. M.O. Folayan, Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife or New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society, Lagos, Nigeria E-mail: toyinukpong@yahoo.co.uk .