Although HIV care is widely available in South Africa, men are less likely than women to know their HIV status,
begin treatment upon diagnosis, and adhere to treatment. Men are also more likely to die from causes related to HIV compared to women. To overcome this inequity, tailored approaches designed with men’s specific needs are required.
As part of the Testing and Treatment for Men project, a 3-year multicomponent, mixed-methods study that aimed to better understand young South African men’s needs concerning HIV testing and treatment, we used human-centered design (HCD) methods to identify, develop, and pilot test a male-friendly peer-support intervention. We engaged key stakeholders in the development of several prototype interventions to improve men’s engagement across the HIV cascade, one of which was selected for further development.