Misleading information about South African HIV study threatens staff safety, council says
Misinformation circulating about a sexual health study is putting fieldworkers at risk, the South African Medical Research Council has said.
The council is seeking to address rumours within participating communities in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces that “blood is being drawn from young girls for illicit purposes” and that researchers are “buying blood”.
It clarified in a statement on 30 April that women and girls participating in a finger-prick HIV study receive shopping vouchers as a “token of appreciation” and may withdraw their consent at any time.
Kim Jonas, a public health specialist at the council, said that participation in the study is voluntary, that blood is not drawn but collected from a finger prick with the participant’s consent, and that participants do not receive money in exchange for blood.
Ulterior motive
The study, known as HERStory 3, is looking into the success of anti-HIV interventions by measuring indicators such as HIV infections, CD4 counts, viral load and the use of post-infection and pre-exposure antiretroviral drugs.
“The research we are conducting is legit and is being conducted ethically with the support of the Department of Health for the benefit of South Africa’s youth,” Jonas said in the statement. “However, we are aware that there might be people with an ulterior motive [who] might use our research concept for their wrongdoings.”
The council expressed concern that misleading information is impacting the safety of its staff. It urged communities not to rely on information from social media and not to be hostile towards trained fieldworkers. It also confirmed that community awareness efforts and consultations with ward councillors, traditional leaders and municipal leaders were undertaken before the study commenced.
Jonas said it is important to study the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescent girls and young women to reduce HIV and unintended pregnancy, and to promote their overall health and wellbeing.