CONTEST
The Problem
Young adults in North Carolina, particularly in Mecklenburg County, face an increased risk of new HIV infections but have one of the lowest rates of HIV testing. HIV self-testing (HIVST), which allows individuals to test for HIV privately, has the potential to overcome some of the barriers associated with testing by making it more accessible and reducing stigma. Despite this, testing rates are still low. We want to change that by involving young adults and community members in creating strategies that meet their needs and encourage both awareness and use of HIVST.
The Solution
Conventional HIV testing and HIVST programs often don’t consider the unique perspectives of young adults. By participating in this contest, you can help shape a more effective and engaging approach to HIVST.
Our Process
The Community-engaged Approaches To Expand HIV Self-testing (CATEST) study will utilize a contest to crowdsource ideas from young adults. We need your voice to generate and create more effective, innovative, and sustainable approaches and messages to increase HIV self-testing among young adults. This project aims to improve the reach and use of HIVST among young adults in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. To participate in the CATEST contest, you will submit a proposal with creative ideas on how to promote HIVST, focusing on engaging youth and community resources.
The Crowdsourcing Open Call Contest
This contest is your chance to create something amazing and impactful. You can help increase HIV testing among young adults with your creative ideas. Your entry can be a write-up, slogan, images, message, proposal, or video. Your strategy should focus on one of these categories:
- Option 1: Entries that raise awareness of HIV self-testing to appeal to young people 18-29 years old in your community.
- Option 2: Entries that promote follow-up services (prevention or treatment) for young people 18-29 years old after HIV self-testing
You can participate as an individual or as a group. You can submit your proposal in the form of images (e.g. photography, mixed media, paintings, murals, etc.), videos (e.g., TikTok, reels, YouTube, etc.), posters, and concepts (e.g. taglines, slogan, description of a program) (minimum of 250 words). Please note that only one entry is allowed per person or group.
What the Contest Entails: Each proposal must include creative and appealing ideas on strategies to promote the reach and uptake of HIVST, focusing on young adults. Participants will design and submit a proposal using an online survey form. Submissions should be in the form of images, videos, slogans, posters, or concepts (minimum of 250 words). You are not limited to these options; let your ideas and creativity shine through your submissions.
Who Can Participate: To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years of age, able to read and speak English, and live, work, or attend school in North Carolina. Please note that at least one member of your team is required to be 18-29 years and reside in North Carolina.
Judging
The research team will review and evaluate submissions to ensure they align with the contest theme and meet the eligibility criteria. Eligible entries will then be judged by a panel comprising of young adults, public health professionals, and community members.
The judging criteria will include the following:
- Novelty: The innovation and originality of the creative idea
- Clarity: How clearly the idea is described
- Feasibility: The practicality and potential for the idea to be implemented
- Relevance: How well the idea addresses the goals of increasing HIV self-testing and follow-up services (prevention or treatment) among young adults
Incentives
On your submission form, we will ask for your email contact information to send you an electronic gift card upon completion of your proposal. Participants who complete the proposal will receive a $50 electronic gift card. Group submissions will be reviewed as a single entry and will also receive a $50 electronic gift card.
Additionally, the top entries may be eligible to receive an additional $500 gift card and will be invited to co-creation workshops hosted by the study team to finalize the strategies to be implemented in collaboration with partner community organizations. The panel of judges will decide on the top ideasin collaboration with the project community advisory group.
Timeline
Kindly note that the timeline is subject to change and will be updated on the website if extended.
Apply Here
Interested in sharing your creative ready? You can apply to the contest by clicking on this link to access the online form.
Contest Rules
All submissions will be evaluated to ensure they do not infringe on any copyright laws. By submitting their work, participants agree to release their intellectual property rights to the research team for the purposes of contest evaluation and potential future promotional use. By submitting your work for this the contest, participants agree to release their intellectual property rights to the research team for contest evaluation and potential future promotional use. This includes the use of their name in connection with their intellectual property for purposes such as the announcement of winners, promotional materials, and implementation strategy development. All participants will be required to complete a waiver consenting to the use of their work by the research team for contest-related purposes, including promotion and implementation strategy development. Failure to comply with these criteria for eligibility will immediately disqualify any entry, regardless of when it is discovered. Use of Generative AI in your submissions: Participants are allowed to use generative AI tools to assist in creating their submissions. However, the final submission must be the original work of the participant(s) and should not infringe on any existing copyrights. Any use of AI-generated content must be clearly disclosed in the submission form. The research team reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet these criteria.
Contact Us
For more information or questions, contact us at cateststudy@charlotte.edu or text 803-271-0454.
References
- Unit NCHSHS. 2020 North Carolina HIV Surveillance Report. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/stds/figures/2021-HIV-AnnualReport.pdf
- Hardy N HT, Kennedy M, et al. Getting to Zero Mecklenburg: A Community Plan to Reduce New Cases of HIV in Mecklenburg County. Accessed March 16, 2022
- Guidelines on HIV Self-Testing and Partner Notification: Supplement to Consolidated Guidelines on HIV Testing Services. World Health Organization. Accessed July 23, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK401675/
- Ortblad KF, Stekler JD. HIV self-testing: finding its way in the prevention tool box. BMC medicine. 2020;18(1):1-3.