- Taking PrEP online: Project PrEP in South Africa
- Target clients
- Building blocks of the Project PrEP service – Pre COVID-19
- Community engagement and demand creation
- PrEP screening
- PrEP initiation
- PrEP initial follow-up
- PrEP continuation: PrEP refill
- PrEP continuation: Routine clinical follow-up
- COVID-19 related adaptations to model
- More...
Project PrEP aims to strengthen demand for, uptake and retention of comprehensive HIV prevention services, including oral PrEP, among adolescent girls and young women (ages 15-24) in South Africa. The project’s objectives are to increase PrEP acceptability within the target group, demonstrate and test effective service delivery models and generate and disseminate evidence on the use of PrEP in real-life settings.
Target clients
Adolescent girls and young women at increased risk of HIV acquisition in South Africa
Building blocks of the Project PrEP service – Pre COVID-19
Community engagement and demand creation
What
Stakeholder engagements, community dialogues, community radio, outreach and youth VIP parties
When
Prior to project launch and ongoing throughout
Where
Within project clusters, with a focus on reaching communities where they are as well as advertisement through social media
Who
Project staff with the support of community-based organisations (CBOs)
PrEP screening
What
PrEP and HIV prevention integrated with sexual and reproductive health services (SRH)
When
1st visit
Where
In-clinic & mobile clinic
Advertised through social media
Who
Department of Health (DoH) clinic & mobile team
PrEP initiation
What
PrEP and HIV prevention, integrated SRH
When
1st visit
Where
In-clinic & mobile clinic
Advertised through social media
Who
DoH clinic & mobile team
PrEP initial follow-up
What
PrEP and HIV prevention, integrated SRH
When
Month 1
Where
In-clinic & mobile clinic including WhatsApp and telephone contact
Who
DoH clinic & mobile team
PrEP continuation: PrEP refill
What
Medication pick-up
When
Every month
Where
In-clinic & mobile clinic including WhatsApp and telephone contact
Who
DoH clinic & mobile team
PrEP continuation: Routine clinical follow-up
What
PrEP and HIV prevention, integrated SRH
When
Month 4 & 7
Where
In-clinic & mobile clinic including WhatsApp and telephone contact
Who
DoH clinic & mobile team
COVID-19 related adaptations to model
When COVID-19 movement restrictions were announced, all group engagements (both in health and community settings) were prohibited. However, the provision of HIV prevention services was identified as an essential health service and permitted to be continued during COVID-19 related lockdowns. To support access and adherence to PrEP during this time, multi-month dispensing of PrEP (two months) was provided (if stocks permitted), services were decentralized (use of mobile clinics and establishment of external pick-up points in hotspots, with location communicated via online and WhatsApp group channels)ongoing support was transitioned to being virtual via telephone/WhatsApp/SMS and there was a scale-down of face-to-face engagement with a concurrent intensification of online engagement (including provision of COVID-19 information).
Building blocks of the Project PrEP service – Post COVID-19
Community engagement and demand creation
What
Stakeholder engagements, community radio, outreach
When
Prior to project launch and ongoing throughout
Where
Mobile clinic near clinic/mobile outreach
Minimum in-clinic activities
Who
Mostly mobile team
Some clinic (Department of Health, DoH)
PrEP screening
What
PrEP and HIV prevention integrated with sexual and reproductive health services (SRH)
When
1st visit
Where
Mobile clinic near clinic/mobile outreach
Who
Mostly mobile team
Some clinic (DoH)
PrEP initiation
What
PrEP and HIV prevention, integrated SRH
When
1st visit
Where
Mobile clinic near clinic/mobile outreach
Who
Mostly mobile team
Some clinic (DoH)
PrEP initial follow-up
What
PrEP and HIV prevention, integrated SRH
When
Month 1
Where
Home deliveries
Remote location set up for pickup and drop off
Community spots convenient to AGYW
Who
Mobile team
PrEP continuation: PrEP refill
What
Medication pick-up
When
Every 2 months
Where
Mobile clinic
Remote location set up for pickup and drop off
Community spots convenient to AGYW
Who
Mostly mobile team
Some clinic (DoH)
PrEP continuation: Routine clinical follow-up
What
PrEP and HIV prevention, integrated SRH
When
Month 4 & 7
Where
Mobile clinic near clinic/mobile outreach
Minimally at the clinic
Who
Mostly mobile team
Some clinic (DoH)
