Recruitment and Follow Up of High Risk HIV Negative Volunteers in Preparation For Vaccine Trials, Kenyan Case

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research will continue to face significant barriers unless solution to enrollment and follow up are found. 30 high-risk HIV negative individuals were recruited and followed up every three months for 9 months. Multiple approaches were used in recruitment. Community education seminars were conducted in nightclubs and the public gatherings. Posters and fliers were used to invite people to the seminars. Reading materials were provided to enhancing understanding. In every visit volunteers were counseled and information on their high-risk behaviour was collected. The study shows that the follow up was 90% for the 30 volunteers. Two of the volunteers lost follow up in their third visit. The success of the follow up was due to counseling and mobilization 2 of the community. Challenges encountered in recruitment and follow up include low literacy levels, poverty, gender inequality, stigma, fears and mistrust about the vaccine. The volunteers could be easily recruited and retained for future vaccine studies.