This study plans to increase uptake and adherence of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention among vulnerable HIV-negative adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 16-24 who engage in high-risk sex, through a multilevel HIV prevention strategy that addresses stigma and discrimination (S&D) in AGYW accessing healthcare, social support, and individual risk behaviors. The randomized controlled trial (RCT) phase of the study will be conducted across 6 geographically mapped zones and 12 clinics in Pretoria, South Africa. Three zones will be randomized to receive S&D clinic training and three zones will be randomized to standard of care. Clinics located in zones randomized to S&D clinic training will participate in workshops aimed to reduce healthcare staff’s stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors toward AGYW. Within each set of zones (S&D training vs. standard of care), clinics will then be randomized to one of three arms: Arm 1: provision of PrEP by the clinics only; Arm 2: provision of PrEP by the clinics with addition of a PrEP club for social support to increase adherence; and Arm 3: provision of PrEP by the clinics with addition of a PrEP club as well as a women-focused behavioral intervention, the Women’s Health CoOp (WHC). This randomization scheme will result in 6 arms based on the zone and clinic. The overarching goal of the study is to reduce AGYW’s healthcare-related barriers to access PrEP, improve PrEP uptake and adherence, and reduce HIV risk behaviors.
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NIH National Institute of Mental Health
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