PrEP My Way: a Hybrid Type 1 Clinical Effectiveness-implementation Trial to Promote PrEP Persistence Among Young Kenyan Women
PrEP My Way is a novel PrEP delivery system consisting of clinic-based PrEP initiation, followed by peer-delivered kits for HIV self-testing, PrEP refills, vaginal swabs for gonorrhea and chlamydia self-sampling, pregnancy tests, and contraception refills, if desired. Based on Social Cognitive Theory, the overall hypothesis is that PrEP My Way will overcome critical stigma and structural barriers that currently limit PrEP use and thus empower young women to promote their sexual health. Preliminary testing of PrEP My Way in Kisumu, Kenya found it to be highly feasible and acceptable, but PrEP use as an oral medication was lower than expected. Now that newer PrEP formulations are becoming available, the team is adding choice of PrEP formulation (i.e., oral tenofovir/emtricitabine, injectable cabotegravir-long acting \[CAB-LA\], or dapivirine ring) as well as choice of adherence support from peers (e.g., SMS \[short message service\], routine check-ins and/or WhatsApp groups) to the intervention. The study team will then test the effectiveness of the augmented PrEP My Way intervention (with and without testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia due to cost concerns) on PrEP persistence in women with ongoing HIV prevention needs (i.e., self-reported desire for PrEP, self-reported HIV risk, condomless sex, and/or multiple sexual partners). The team will also track implementation, service, and client metrics per Proctor's framework and determine cost-effectiveness of the intervention
• young women (age 16-24 years)
• initiating PrEP at the recruitment site (this criterion subsumes all necessary safety assessments for starting PrEP, including HIV-negative status and for those taking FTC/TDF normal renal function and lack of Hepatitis B infection)
• resident in Kisumu County
• phone ownership
• ability to understand KiSwahili, DhoLuo, and/or English