MedPath

Long-Acting HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Integrated With Sexual and Reproductive Health - cRCT

Phase 3
Recruiting
Conditions
HIV Infections
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT06250504
Lead Sponsor
Africa Health Research Institute
Brief Summary

The goal of this hybrid (1a) Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial phase 3B trial is to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of offering a choice of HIV Pre-Exposure Products (PrEP) through community-based sexual and reproductive health services, on PrEP uptake and retention, and population prevalence of sexually transmissible HIV amongst adolescents and young adults living in rural South Africa.

Researchers will compare adding the choice of long-acting PrEP, i.e. two monthly injectable cabotegravir (CAB LA) or dapiravine vaginal ring and HIV post exposure prophylaxis packs to daily oral PrEP integrated with community-based SRH in the 20 intervention clusters with standard of care (SoC), daily oral PrEP integrated with community-based SRH in the 20 control clusters, on uptake and retention on PrEP. We hypothesise that offering a choice of long-acting or oral PrEP and PEP within the community-based delivery of SRH services will overcome the challenges and barriers to effective use of oral daily PrEP and lead to a population-level effect on uptake and retention on PrEP and thus the prevalence of sexually transmissible HIV amongst 15-30 year olds living in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Detailed Description

This is a pragmatic trial of adding in a choice of South African Health Products Registration Authority (SAHPRA) approved newer PrEP products - APRETUDE (cabotegravir) 600 mg\\3 mL: DAPIRING (Dapivirine) 25mg Vaginal Ring:56/20.2.8/0979 (22/11/2022) - to the current national department of health approved oral daily PrEP with TVF/FTC (Tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine), Objective 1. To measure the effectiveness of the choice of oral and long-acting PrEP, including injectable (CAB LA) and vaginal ring (DapiRing), and post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) on increasing effective uptake (adoption), retention, and adherence of PrEP compared to oral PrEP in young people aged 15-30 in rural South Africa and to estimate the preliminary effect on transmissible HIV and HIV incidence.

Objective 2. To understand real-world implementation:

2.1 To explore the acceptability, appropriateness, preference, and reach of CABLA from the perspective of young people aged 15-30 and their communities in rural South Africa 2.2 To understand the feasibility, affordability, and scalability of delivering CABLA through community-based PrEP with SRH.

2.3 To identify implementation challenges and practical solutions for CABLA initiation, laboratory monitoring (e.g. RNA testing), and safe stopping within nurse-led and rural community-based clinical settings 2.4 To evaluate the safety and tolerability of CABLA compared to oral PrEP

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
2000
Inclusion Criteria

All young men and women aged 15-30 who are residing in the 40 administrative clusters in the study district and attend any integrated SRH/HIV service

Documented HIV negative test

Suitable for PrEP and/or already on PrEP

Weight > 35 kg

Understand the required dosing schedule and HIV testing.

Aware that details can be shared with a peer navigator to support their follow-up

If pregnant or breast feeding and/or planning to become pregnant participant can be offered CAB LA, if risk of acquiring HIV out weighs unknown risk of CAB LA, but must understand that safety in pregnancy or breast feeding for CAB LA has not been established and oral daily PrEP is a safe alternative.

Exclusion Criteria

History or presence of allergy to the study drugs or their components

Investigator assessment find them not suitable

Additional exclusion criteria for specific products:

CAB LA: Taking medication that is contraindicated (Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, Rifampin, rifapentine) and Severe mental health disorder, Hep B surface antigen positive, living with hepatitis C and not yet treated, or abnormal liver function tests (ALT more than two times the upper limit of normal)

DapiRing: Pregnancy.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention: Choice of long-acting PrEP and PEP added to Thetha Nami ngithethe nawetenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabineTailored peer-led psychosocial support and social mobilisation into community based SRH and differentiated HIV care and prevention, including a choice of effective PrEP or PEP. At the mobile AYFS in the intervention clusters nurses will offer the choice of either daily oral tenofovir/emtricitabine or injectable long acting cabotegravir (CAB LA) to be delivered to adolescents and young adults at risk of HIV acquisition. Those who decline will have the option of three monthly dapivarine vaginal rings or Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) packs (tenofovir/lamuvidine/dolutegravir) to take home. Peer navigators will promote long-acting PrEP in addition to oral PrEP. As part of the peer mentorship package, the peer naviators will remind young people of their follow-up visits.
Intervention: Choice of long-acting PrEP and PEP added to Thetha Nami ngithethe naweTenofovir Disoproxil, Lamuvidine and DolutegravirTailored peer-led psychosocial support and social mobilisation into community based SRH and differentiated HIV care and prevention, including a choice of effective PrEP or PEP. At the mobile AYFS in the intervention clusters nurses will offer the choice of either daily oral tenofovir/emtricitabine or injectable long acting cabotegravir (CAB LA) to be delivered to adolescents and young adults at risk of HIV acquisition. Those who decline will have the option of three monthly dapivarine vaginal rings or Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) packs (tenofovir/lamuvidine/dolutegravir) to take home. Peer navigators will promote long-acting PrEP in addition to oral PrEP. As part of the peer mentorship package, the peer naviators will remind young people of their follow-up visits.
Control (Enhanced SoC): Thetha Nami ngithethe nawetenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabineTailored peer-led psychosocial support and social mobilisation into community based SRH and differentiated HIV care and prevention, including oral tenofovir/emtricitabine PrEP. In the mobile AYFS, young people are offered self-taken vaginal swabs or urine testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), family planning support and syndromic and aetiological management for STIs; HIV counselling and two POCT; immediate initiation of ART if living with HIV and oral tenofovir/emtricitabine PrEP if HIV test is negative and they are suitable. Peer navigators in control clusters will promote oral PrEP during their community based health promotion activities. As part of the peer mentorship package, the peer naviators will remind young people of their follow-up visits and if required accompany young people to the mobile clinics.
Intervention: Choice of long-acting PrEP and PEP added to Thetha Nami ngithethe naweAPRETUDE (cabotegravir) 600 mg\3 mLTailored peer-led psychosocial support and social mobilisation into community based SRH and differentiated HIV care and prevention, including a choice of effective PrEP or PEP. At the mobile AYFS in the intervention clusters nurses will offer the choice of either daily oral tenofovir/emtricitabine or injectable long acting cabotegravir (CAB LA) to be delivered to adolescents and young adults at risk of HIV acquisition. Those who decline will have the option of three monthly dapivarine vaginal rings or Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) packs (tenofovir/lamuvidine/dolutegravir) to take home. Peer navigators will promote long-acting PrEP in addition to oral PrEP. As part of the peer mentorship package, the peer naviators will remind young people of their follow-up visits.
Intervention: Choice of long-acting PrEP and PEP added to Thetha Nami ngithethe naweDAPIRING (Dapivirine) 25mg Vaginal RingTailored peer-led psychosocial support and social mobilisation into community based SRH and differentiated HIV care and prevention, including a choice of effective PrEP or PEP. At the mobile AYFS in the intervention clusters nurses will offer the choice of either daily oral tenofovir/emtricitabine or injectable long acting cabotegravir (CAB LA) to be delivered to adolescents and young adults at risk of HIV acquisition. Those who decline will have the option of three monthly dapivarine vaginal rings or Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) packs (tenofovir/lamuvidine/dolutegravir) to take home. Peer navigators will promote long-acting PrEP in addition to oral PrEP. As part of the peer mentorship package, the peer naviators will remind young people of their follow-up visits.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Uptake PrEPThis will be evaluated among participants aged 16-30 years in the cross-sectional surveys at 14 months

Defined as the proportion of young people who have taken up any PrEP (oral, injectable, ring, or PEP).

Retention on PrEPThis will be measured in the clinical cohort of consenting clinic attendeeswho start or are on PrEP/PEP during the first 10 months of the trial.

Defined as attending at least one follow-up appointment after PrEP/PEP initiation, including for HIV testing.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Uptake of risk informed HIV prevention14 months

Defined as the proportion of 16-30 year olds who are aware of their HIV status and have undergone a HIV risk assessment to inform HIV prevention and/or are on/start HIV treatment if living with HIV.

PrEP Reach (Adoption)14 months

Proportion of those at greatest risk adopting (taking up) PrEP or PEP in each arm. Greatest risk is defined as an aggregate exposure disaggregated by gender that includes any of the following factors: out of school (aged \<= 18) or unemployed (aged \>18) and/or engaged in transactional sex or sex work and/or harmful alcohol use (AUDIT scale) and/or experience physical, sexual or emotional violence (validated tool) and/or food poverty (recent experience of hunger)

Proportion of men and women aged 16-30 at risk of acquiring HIV or transmitting HIV14 months

If living with HIV (a detectable viral load + condomless sex + not on ART), or, if not living with HIV (condomless sex + not on PrEP)

Adverse events14 months

Proportion discontinue or switch due to adverse events in each arm

The prevalence of transmissible HIV.14 months

We will measure this outcome as the proportion of those living with HIV and have a detectable HIV viral load, defined as having an HIV viral load of \>= 400 copies per ml, during our final survey round.

PrEP delivery cost and cost-effectiveness14 months

cost per effective PrEP uptake in each arm

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Africa Health Research Institute

🇿🇦

Somkele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath