# Planning for delivery of novel PrEP formulations to pregnant and postpartum women in Kenya

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $43,050

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This F31 proposal aims to evaluate pregnant and postpartum women’s preferences for different pre-exposure
prophylaxis (PrEP) methods and identify early process indicators for implementing these options in maternal and
child health (MCH) systems. HIV incidence remains unacceptability high among adolescent girls and young
women (AGYW) in East and Southern Africa and evidence suggests a two-fold higher risk of HIV acquisition
during pregnancy. Daily oral PrEP is scaling up for pregnant/postpartum women in Kenya but despite appreciable
uptake of oral PrEP by pregnant/postpartum women, >50% discontinue within 30 days of initiation. Unique
attributes of pregnancy and postpartum may influence discontinuation, including co-occurring side effects (e.g.,
nausea) and demands of motherhood. New long-acting (LA)-PrEP methods (e.g., vaginal rings and injectables)
have recently been approved and may address some barriers to PrEP persistence during pregnancy/postpartum,
though no systemic evaluation has been conducted to date. Early implementation studies for LA-PrEP can
accelerate its integration into maternal and child health (MCH) systems. Kenya, as one of the first countries to
implement PrEP at scale, is an ideal setting to study expanding access and uptake among pregnant women.
This proposal leverages data collected in an ongoing RCT (MR01NR019220, MPI: Pintye, Kinuthia) among 600
Kenyan women who initiate daily oral PrEP during pregnancy and are followed through nine months postpartum.
The study includes longitudinal assessments of preferences for PrEP methods (pills, vaginal rings, injectables).
Interviews and focus-groups are also conducted among PrEP users, providers, and PrEP stakeholders to
ascertain implementation outcomes. In Aim 1, we will determine pregnant and postpartum women’s preferred
PrEP attributes for HIV prevention-effective use applying discrete choice experiment analysis methods to identify
preferred PrEP method. In Aim 2, we will identify profiles of pregnant/postpartum women who would prefer novel
PrEP methods using latent class models to identify distinct profiles of study participants with different preferences
for several PrEP methods (daily oral, vaginal ring, injectable) and the driving predictors of preference within these
classes. In Aim 3, we will evaluate implementation determinants for integration of LA-PrEP formulations into
MCH systems using qualitative research informed by an implementation science process framework. The
proposed research plan will provide the F31 candidate rigorous predoctoral training in 1) analytic techniques in
discrete choice experiments and latent class modeling, 2) measurement of social and structural determinants of
HIV risk for pregnant/postpartum women, and 3) application of a process framework for implementation of LA-
PrEP. This study will be the first evaluation of user-preferences for new PrEP methods among pregnant and
postpartum women and findings will help inform messaging and i...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10814787
- **Project number:** 5F31HD112236-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Tessa Leigh Concepcion
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $43,050
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-15 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10814787

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10814787, Planning for delivery of novel PrEP formulations to pregnant and postpartum women in Kenya (5F31HD112236-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10814787. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*