Better HIV prevention for new and breastfeeding mothers in Lilongwe, Malawi
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]
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 ID | NIH-11325807 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Chapel Hill, United States
- 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.
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 below.