# PrEP My Way: A Novel PrEP Delivery System to Meet the Needs of Young African Women

> **NIH NIH R34** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $245,388

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY - Significance: Young women (16-24 years old) in sub-Saharan Africa are a
vulnerable population in terms of HIV acquisition with ~7,000 new infections occurring per week. Oral daily
pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective means of HIV prevention when taken regularly. Early
experience with the global rollout of PrEP in this population indicates enthusiasm for PrEP, but also barriers to
adherence and program retention. Proposed intervention: 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, our 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. Innovation: This study is the first, to our knowledge, to develop a peer-delivered kit for PrEP
use, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, and contraception. The intervention leverages smart use of
readily available technology (e.g., SMS, WhatsApp, Vimeo) to support use of the kit and peer-based
empowerment. Approach: We will first develop, tailor, and refine PrEP My Way for use with young women in
Kisumu, Kenya (Aim 1). We will use a client-centered, iterative approach, involving ~15 individual interviews
and two focus group discussions (with ~5 women each) to optimally design the PrEP My Way kit (with
instructional materials) and peer delivery system (including communication and kit delivery plans). We will
then test the intervention for feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact on PrEP adherence and program
retention (Aim 2). We will randomize 100 Kenyan women to PrEP My Way versus standard of care (i.e., clinic-
based delivery of PrEP and sexual health services) and follow them for 6 months. Feasibility will be assessed
by receipt of the kit at 1, 3, and 6 months and ability to use its components per protocol. Acceptability will be
determined through a mixed-methods interview at 6 months. Preliminary impact will be evaluated by dried
blood spot tenofovir levels (adherence) and kit use/clinic attendance at 6 months (retention) as primary
outcomes. Potential influencing and mediating socio-behavioral factors will be explored with questionnaires at
baseline and 6 months. Investigators/environment: Our team has extensive relevant experience to ensure
the success of this proposal, including PrEP adherence and behavioral science (PI: Dr. Haberer at
Massachusetts General Hospital), sexual health service delivery (Dr. Bukusi at the Kenyan Medical Research
Institute, Dr. Baeten at the University of Washington), and remote delivery and monitoring for PrEP and STIs
(Dr. Siegler at Emory), as well as product design (ARK in Nairobi). Future directions: PrEP My Way is
designed with limited inf...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9933237
- **Project number:** 1R34MH122362-01
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Jessica Elizabeth Haberer
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $245,388
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-03-06 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9933237

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9933237, PrEP My Way: A Novel PrEP Delivery System to Meet the Needs of Young African Women (1R34MH122362-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9933237. Licensed CC0.

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