Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Innovative Interventions among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa: A Protocol Paper

Methods Protoc. 2024 Sep 29;7(5):77. doi: 10.3390/mps7050077.

Abstract

Although South Africa was the first country to register and roll out oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) biomedical human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention intervention in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), its uptake remains low, particularly among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). The uptake of PrEP may have worsened during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Some innovative interventions to improve PrEP uptake among AGYW have been implemented. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of PrEP innovative interventions implemented during COVID-19 towards reducing the risk of HIV infection among AGYW in South Africa. An exploratory, descriptive design will be conducted to carry out four study objectives. Firstly, to carry out a systematic review of innovative PrEP interventions implemented during COVID-19 in SSA countries. Secondly, to conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify PrEP stakeholders and interview them on their views on the implemented interventions. Thirdly, to assess the implementation outcomes of the innovative interventions using document reviews and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Fourthly, to develop a framework for an improved PrEP service delivery among AGYW. Qualitative data will be captured in ATLAS.ti software (Technical University, Berlin, Germany) version 23 and analysed via thematic analysis. A statistical software package (STATA) version 18 (College Station, TX, USA) will be used to capture quantitative data and analyse them via descriptive analysis. The generated evidence will be used towards the development of framework, guidelines, and policies to strengthen the uptake of, scale-up, and adherence to PrEP among AGYW.

Keywords: COVID-19; HIV/AIDS; South Africa; adolescent girls and young women; innovative interventions; pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Grants and funding

The work reported herein was made possible through funding by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) through its Division of Research Capacity Development under the Mid-Career Scientist Program using funding received from the South African National Treasury (Project Code number: 57035 [SAMRC File ref no: HDID8528/KR/202]). The authors Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya, Edith Phalane, and Musa Jaiteh are supported by the above-mentioned grant. This work was conducted under the guidance of SAMRC/University of Johannesburg (UJ) Pan African Centre for Epidemics Research (PACER) Extramural Unit. The content herein is the authors’ sole responsibility and does not necessarily represent the official views of SAMRC or UJ. This paper also forms part of a PhD study by Mrs Lerato Lucia Olifant, whose studies are funded by the Global Excellence Stature 4.0 Scholarship at UJ.