Home-based STI testing and risk assessment for adolescent girls in South Africa
Official title: Feasibility pilot of home-based STI testing and risk self-assessment among adolescent girls in South Africa to trigger PrEP re-start
Funded at Wits Health Consortium (Pty), LTD · NIH-10678858 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether giving home testing kits for STIs to teenage girls in South Africa can help them take control of their sexual health and get more involved in programs that prevent HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wits Health Consortium (Pty), LTD NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Parktown, South Africa) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $210,596 |
| NIH project number | 5R34MH126743-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10678858 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescent girls aged 12 to 20 years living in South Africa who are at risk of HIV and STIs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the age range of 12 to 20 years or those not at risk for HIV or STIs may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the feasibility of providing home-based testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to adolescent girls in South Africa. The approach includes training these young women to self-administer tests for STIs like Chlamydia and Neisseria gonorrhea, alongside assessing their perceived risk of HIV. By empowering adolescents to take charge of their sexual health, the study aims to improve their engagement with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programs. The research will utilize both in-person and virtual training methods to ensure accessibility and effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the uptake and persistence of PrEP among adolescent girls, ultimately reducing their risk of HIV and STIs.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results with home-based STI testing and self-assessment approaches, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Wits Health Consortium (Pty), LTD
Parktown, South Africa Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Palanee, Thesla — Wits Health Consortium (Pty), LTD
- Study coordinator: Palanee, Thesla
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
mChoice: Boosting PrEP Use and Adherence for Black and Latino MSM with Tailored Training and Support
A national study to help Black and Latino men who have sex with men start and stick with PrEP through culturally matched provider training and patient support.
-
Harnessing male peer networks to boost HIV testing and PrEP use
A large clinical trial in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through male peer networks, with phone support, increases PrEP uptake among men.
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Harnessing men's peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
A large project in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through men’s social networks, with phone support, can lead to more men starting PrEP and using HIV testing.
-
Participatory system dynamics to improve PrEP access in the Bronx
A community-driven project in the Bronx will use system dynamics to identify practical ways to help people at risk for HIV start and stay on PrEP.
-
TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
Aims to help people in households with TB in Uganda access HIV PrEP as part of a combined prevention approach.
-
CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
A program called CARES helps young women in South Africa and Zimbabwe use different PrEP options better, with counseling, reminders, and options for support.
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.