Better HIV protection with PrEP for pregnant and new mothers in South Africa
Stepped care to optimize PrEP effectiveness in pregnant and postpartum women (SCOPE-PP) in South Africa
This project offers stepped-care supports to help pregnant and postpartum women in South Africa start and stay on PrEP to prevent HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126626 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, I would be enrolled at an antenatal or postpartum clinic in South Africa and randomly assigned to receive either standard PrEP services or a stepped package of additional supports. The extra supports can include HIV self-testing for me and my partner(s), enhanced adherence counseling, and other tailored adherence strategies. Study staff will follow participants through pregnancy and the postpartum period to track PrEP use, HIV testing, and infant outcomes. The team will also analyze costs to inform national policy decisions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are HIV-negative pregnant or breastfeeding women in South Africa who are offered or eligible for PrEP and want extra support to stay protected.
Not a fit: People who are already living with HIV, not eligible for PrEP, or unable to attend participating clinics in South Africa would not benefit from joining this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce new maternal HIV infections and prevent infant HIV by improving PrEP uptake and adherence during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work integrating PrEP into antenatal care has shown PrEP is safe, acceptable, and feasible, but postpartum adherence often falls, so this trial builds on promising but incomplete results.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joseph Davey, Dvora Leah — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Joseph Davey, Dvora Leah
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.