Project Description

This research aims to comprehensively evaluate a multi-component HIV prevention project in Zimbabwe targeting young female sex workers (FSW) under 25 years of age, to determine methods of delivery that result in the highest uptake, retention, and compliance. Young FSW are a vulnerable population at greater risk for HIV acquisition than their older counterparts, yet their engagement in HIV services remains low. Funding has been secured to implement an evidence-based, HIV prevention pilot project for young FSW, integrated within Zimbabwe's National Sex Worker Programme (NSWP) clinics. This project will comprehensively evaluate the pilot project at 8 NSWP clinics, benefiting from the infrastructure, resources, and wealth of programmatic data available from all 36 NSWP sites nationally. The specific aims are to: (1) determine barriers and facilitators to implementation and uptake of the HIV prevention pilot project, (2) implement and evaluate the pilot project using a randomized stepped wedge design, and (3) estimate the cost and cost-effectiveness of the different HIV prevention components. This study will provide quantitative and qualitative evidence to determine if a future trial to scale up and evaluate the intervention's effectiveness/cost-effectiveness is warranted.

Project Coordinator
Project Partners
NIMH
Project Open
Open
Countries