Better HIV prevention for new and breastfeeding mothers in Lilongwe, Malawi
Official title: Project 2 - Improving HIV prevention among postpartum women in Lilongwe, Malawi: the postpartum prevention package [Parent Title: PREVENTING INFANT INFECTIONS WITH IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE IN MALAWI]
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11325807 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares daily oral and newer long‑acting injectable PrEP as part of a postpartum prevention package to help protect new and breastfeeding mothers and their babies from HIV in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $331,168 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HD112215-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325807 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
HIV‑negative women who have recently given birth in Lilongwe, Malawi, especially those who are breastfeeding or at ongoing risk for HIV, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are already living with HIV, who live outside the Lilongwe area, or who cannot take PrEP for medical reasons would not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would be offered a postpartum prevention package after delivery that includes HIV testing, counseling, and choices between daily oral PrEP or a long‑acting injectable PrEP. The team works with local clinics in Lilongwe to help women start and stay on the prevention option they choose, with regular follow-up visits, medication dispensing, and brief surveys or health checks. Your and your baby’s HIV status would be monitored over time to see whether the package reduces new infections during breastfeeding. The program also aims to identify practical ways clinics can deliver these options so more women can use them effectively.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make HIV prevention easier for postpartum women and reduce the number of infants who acquire HIV during breastfeeding.
How similar studies have gone: Daily oral PrEP is known to protect against HIV when taken consistently, and long‑acting injectable PrEP has shown strong protection in recent trials but is newer in postpartum populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rutstein, Sarah E. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Rutstein, Sarah E.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving HIV prevention for postpartum women in Malawi
This study is looking at ways to help new moms in Malawi stay safe from HIV after giving birth by providing them with easy access to a prevention method called PrEP, along with support and education to make sure they can use it effectively for their health and their baby's health.
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Making HIV prevention and care easier for Ugandan youth
A Ugandan study is testing ways to help adolescents and young adults (15–24) prevent HIV and stay healthy, using long-acting PrEP and youth-friendly services.
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Innovative HIV Prevention and Care Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults in Uganda
A Ugandan research team is testing practical, youth-focused strategies to help 15-24 year-olds using HIV prevention or treatment services stay healthy and engaged in care.
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Improving HIV Prevention and Care for Ugandan Adolescents and Young Adults
A Uganda-based research effort aims to boost HIV prevention and care outcomes for 15-24 year-olds by testing practical, community-based strategies to increase PrEP use and viral suppression.
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Adolescent and Youth HIV Prevention and Care Improvements in Uganda
A UG1 grant is testing ways to help Ugandan teens and young adults (ages 15-24) prevent HIV and stay healthy if they have HIV, using new long-acting PrEP and community care approaches.
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Malkia Klabu: safer, youth-friendly pharmacies to boost HIV prevention for AGYW in Tanzania
A Tanzania-based project tests a youth-friendly pharmacy model to improve access to HIV prevention and sexual health services for adolescent girls and young women.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.