Data from: Volunteer motivators for participating in HIV vaccine clinical trials in Nairobi, Kenya

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(0) Figures Abstract Background: 1.5 million Kenyans are living with
HIV/AIDS as per 2015 estimates. Though there is a notable decline in new
HIV infections, continued effort is still needed to develop an
efficacious, accessible and affordable HIV vaccine. HIV vaccine clinical
trials bear risks, hence a need to understand volunteer motivators for
enrolment, retention and follow-up. Understanding the factors that
motivate volunteers to participate in a clinical trial can help to
strategize, refine targeting and thus increase enrolment of volunteers in
future HIV vaccine clinical trials. The health belief model classifies
motivators into social benefits such as ‘advancing research’ and
collaboration with science, and personal benefits such as health benefits
and financial interests. Method: A thematic analysis was carried out on
data obtained from four HIV clinical trials conducted at KAVI-Institute of
Clinical Research in Nairobi Kenya from 2009 to 2015. Responses were
obtained from a Questionnaire administered to the volunteers during their
screening visit at the research site. Results: Of the 281 healthy,
HIV-uninfected volunteers participating in this study; 38% were motivated
by personal benefits including, 31% motivated by health benefits and 7%
motivated by possible financial gains. In addition, 62% of the volunteers
were motivated by social benefits with 20% of who were seeking to help
their family/society/world while 42% were interested in advancing
research. Conclusion: The majority of volunteers in the HIV vaccine trials
at our site were motivated by social benefits, suggesting that altruism
can be a major contributor to participation in HIV vaccine studies.
Personal benefits were a secondary motivator for the volunteers. The
motivators to volunteer in HIV clinical trials were similar across ages,
education level and gender. Education on what is needed (including
volunteer participation) to develop an efficacious vaccine could be the
key to greater volunteer motivation to participate in HIV vaccine clinical
trials.