Study Aim: To understand adolescent girls’ and young women’s (AGYW) preferences for HIV prevention technologies and integrated sexual and reproductive health service delivery models in Tanzania.
Background:
AGYW in East Africa continue to face a disproportionate burden of HIV acquisition and unintended pregnancy, both of which contribute to poor maternal and reproductive health outcomes. Although oral PrEP is highly effective for HIV prevention, uptake and adherence remain limited due to stigma, side effects, daily pill burden, and limited youth-friendly services. Emerging HIV prevention technologies, including long-acting injectables and dual prevention pills (DPPs), may address some of these barriers, but understanding AGYW preferences is essential to ensuring successful implementation and uptake.
This study, done in collaboration with Dr. Ruby Mcharo, used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) among 450 AGYW to evaluate preferences for HIV prevention technologies, including oral daily PrEP, bimonthly injectable PrEP, biannual injectable PrEP, and DPPs, as well as implementation features such as care location, cost, and adherence support. Standardized scales assessed AGYW self-perceived risk of HIV acquisition and unintended pregnancy and examined how these perceptions influence prevention preferences and contraceptive use.
To ensure findings are grounded in AGYW perspectives, a Tanzanian Youth Community Advisory Board (YCAB) participated in a three-day Human-Centered Design “Design Sprint” to co-develop AGYW-centered intervention ideas informed by study findings. Results from this study will provide preliminary data to inform future integrated HIV prevention and reproductive health interventions aimed at reducing health inequities among AGYW.
Specific Aims:
- Determine AGYW preferences for PrEP technologies and implementation models using a discrete choice experiment (DCE).
- Evaluate how AGYW self-perceived risk of HIV and unintended pregnancy influences prevention preferences and contraceptive use.
- Engage a Tanzanian Youth Community Advisory Board (YCAB) to co-design AGYW-centered intervention strategies through a Human-Centered Design process.
Inclusion Criteria: AGYW aged 15–24 who are currently or recently at risk for HIV acquisition and eligible for HIV prevention services will be eligible to participate.