Empathy in Frames: Animated Cartoons To Reduce HIV Stigma Among South African Young Adults

Summary

This study looks at whether using cartoons that reflect the culture of South Africa can help change how young adults there think about HIV/AIDS. This study will test two types of cartoons in a two-arm (treatment, comparator) randomized controlled trial design-one with Black characters and one with White characters-to see how they affect people's attitudes and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Randomly allocated participants will be Black seronegative South African adults between 18 and 35 years old. This group was chosen because they're a demographic disproportionately affected by HIV, they're at a high point in their lives for shaping and sharing beliefs, and they're also highly active online, which is where this study takes place.

The cartoons will show the daily struggles of the protagonist living with HIV/AIDS, and end with a call to action. The study aims to highlight how the characters' ethnicity influences how viewers feel about and remember the message. The investigators want to understand if seeing characters who look like them helps people understand and empathize more. The aim of this study is to learn how cultural representation can improve health communication and guide future efforts to reduce stigma in different communities. Ultimately, the investigators hope this study will contribute to better public health messages and create a more accepting environment for people with HIV/AIDS.

Conditions

• HIV-related Stigma

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Thabo cartoon

The animated cartoon features Thabo, a Black South African man living with HIV. Through his narrative, viewers follow his daily experiences managing his condition and confronting societal stigma in a South African context. The story explores his interactions with family, friends, and community members, highlighting both challenges and moments of resilience. The animation concludes with Thabo delivering an anti-stigma message directly to viewers.

BEHAVIORAL

Steve cartoon

The animated cartoon follows Steve, a White man living with HIV. His narrative parallels Thabo's, showing his daily experiences managing HIV and facing societal stigma. The story depicts his interactions with family, friends, and community members, presenting the same situations and challenges as in Thabo's story. The animation ends with Steve delivering the same anti-stigma message to viewers.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Columbia University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Yanis Ben Amor, PhD · Columbia University

• Adam Sacarny, PhD · Columbia University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-11-11

Primary Completion

2024-12-23

Completion

2024-12-23

Countries

• South Africa