Easier access to HIV prevention (PrEP) through HIV testing counselors
Scaling up for impact: HIV testing counselor-led pathway to accelerate PrEP delivery at scale
This project will try using HIV testing counselors in family planning clinics to help people—especially women—start and stay on HIV prevention (PrEP).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190955 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you go to a family planning clinic, trained HIV testing counselors would screen you for PrEP eligibility and help you choose the prevention option that fits your life, including new ring and injectable options. The team builds on prior work in Kenyan clinics that greatly increased who was screened and who started PrEP by shifting tasks to counselors and shortening visit time. Over several years they will roll this counselor-led approach out across clinics and track how many people start and keep using PrEP and how clinic workflows change. The goal is to make PrEP faster, easier, and more available without adding long waits for clinic staff or patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people at risk for HIV—particularly women attending family planning clinics in the Kenyan/African sites where the project is offered.
Not a fit: People not using family planning clinics, those already stably on PrEP through other services, or individuals outside the project regions may not benefit directly from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could make it much easier and quicker for people to start and remain on PrEP, increasing protection against HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier work in Kenyan family planning clinics using a similar counselor-led model markedly increased screening and PrEP starts, so this builds on successful prior implementation.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mugwanya, Kenneth Kiggundu — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Mugwanya, Kenneth Kiggundu
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.