Enhanced HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections and Pregnancy Prevention Study to Improve Adolescent Reproductive Health Services in Uganda

The overall goal of this research to test the acceptability and effectiveness of two enhanced adolescent friendly reproductive health prevention interventions versus current routine care. In each intervention group, 152 adolescent mothers will be randomized to either the enhanced group peer support education and counseling intervention or to the enhanced one-to-one (individual) peer support education and counseling group with a young, model, peer educator trained to deliver Reproductive Health Education and counseling messages, beginning during pregnancy (≥ 28 weeks) and followed up to 9 months postpartum or study end at or after 6 months (whichever comes first). The control group will consist of 215 adolescent mothers randomized to routine care as provided at Mulago hospital (or the designated health facility) where midwives deliver group sessions during antenatal and postpartum care visits as well as standard PMTCT services including routine opt-out HIV C&T and availability of partner C&T. Syphilis testing should also be routinely provided and treatment provided for infected pregnant mothers and their partners as per local standard of care.

The 3 groups will be enrolled with study visits at 3, 6 and 9 months post partum however the intervention groups (Arms 2 and 3) will have additional visits at 36 weeks Antepartum, delivery, 6 and 10 weeks postpartum, Quantitative baseline data will be collected on routine demographic characteristics, reproductive history, pregnancy intentions and sexual risk/perceptions and HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infection status.