About this trial

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

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

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

Disqualifiers

inability to provide informed consent (e.g., intoxication)

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

PrEP My Way intervention
Behavioral
Intervention components may be modified pending the input from Aim 1. As currently planned, the peer delivering the PrEP My Way kit will be trained to provide basic education and support use of the kit components. The peer will also have a smart phone to show an instructional video. Participants will communicate with peers via mobile phones (e.g., SMS, WhatsApp) to arrange for kit delivery at Months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 for those choosing the oral or ring formulations of PrEP. If the participant chooses to use injections, she will communicate with the peers to arrange for kit delivery at Months 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12. All deliveries will be made via unmarked vehicles at home or a preferred safe site during reasonable hours. Two-way mobile phone communication will also be used to convey test results and provide on-going support and empowerment. Follow-up with the clinic will occur at Month 12 and as needed (e.g., treatment for positive tests).
PrEP My Way intervention without STI testing
Behavioral
Intervention components may be modified pending the input from Aim 1. As currently planned, the peer delivering the PrEP My Way kit will be trained to provide basic education and support use of the kit components. This kit will not contain STI testing. The peer will also have a smart phone to show an instructional video. Participants will communicate with peers via mobile phones (e.g., SMS, WhatsApp) to arrange for kit delivery at Months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 for those choosing the oral or ring formulations of PrEP. If the participant chooses to use injections, she will communicate with the peers to arrange for kit delivery at Months 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12. All deliveries will be made via unmarked vehicles at home or a preferred safe site during reasonable hours. Two-way mobile phone communication will also be used to convey test results and provide on-going support and empowerment. Follow-up with the clinic will occur at Month 12 and as needed (e.g., treatment for positive tests).
Enhanced standard of care
Behavioral
These participants will receive PrEP (choice of oral, ring, or injection formulation), STI testing, and family planning at the clinic, as requested.

Treatment groups

500 Participants

are divided into 3 treatment groups

Group A: PrEP My Way interventionExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Group B: PrEP My Way intervention without STI testingExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Group C: Enhanced standard of careExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Months of PrEP persistence

We will consider receipt of CAB-LA injections as count data, we will analyze the amount of dapivirine loaded in the ring minus the residual ring level, and we will analyze the TFV-DP concentrations from dried blood spots in those participants who took oral PrEP. Each measure reflects \~8 weeks of drug coverage, such that an equivalent measure is available for all formulations.

Time frame

9 months

Secondary outcomes

1

Months of prevention-effective persistence

We will consider receipt of CAB-LA injections as count data, we will analyze the amount of dapivirine loaded in the ring minus the residual ring level, and we will analyze the TFV-DP concentrations from dried blood spots in those participants who took oral PrEP. Each measure reflects \~8 weeks of drug coverage, such that an equivalent measure is available for all formulations. Data will only be considered for those reporting ongoing HIV prevention needs.