Mobile health tool to boost PrEP and contraception use among female university students in Zambia
Official title: A Mobile Health Intervention to Increase Uptake of PrEP and Contraception Among Female University Students in Zambia
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11385413 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile, peer-supported program helps young women in Zambia start and stick with PrEP and modern contraception to prevent HIV and unintended pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $164,339 |
| NIH project number | 5R33MH131281-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385413 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are female university students in Zambia who are at risk for HIV and unintended pregnancy and are open to using PrEP and/or contraception.
✕Less likely to help
Students who do not perceive themselves at risk or who are not interested in PrEP or contraception may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project adapts a tablet-based, peer-navigator platform to assess risk, deliver education, and connect high-risk female university students to HIV and reproductive health services in Zambia. It uses a phased, mixed-methods approach to design and test how the intervention supports uptake and persistence with PrEP and contraception. The goal is to make it easier for these young women to access preventive care through regular, supportive communication and tailored information.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce new HIV infections and unintended pregnancies among young women in higher-education settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
How similar studies have gone: Similar mHealth and peer-support approaches have shown promise in improving preventive health uptake in various settings, though context-specific results are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hampanda, Karen Marie — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Hampanda, Karen Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mobile health support to boost PrEP and contraception use among young women in Zambia
A mobile health program helps female university students in Zambia learn about and access HIV prevention and contraception.
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Tablet-based peer support to help female university students in Zambia use PrEP and contraception
A tablet-led peer navigator program to help female university students in Zambia learn about and start using PrEP and modern contraception.
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Using mobile health tools to improve contraception and HIV prevention among female university students in Zambia
This study is testing a helpful mobile program for female university students in Zambia to provide them with information and support about HIV prevention and birth control, making it easier for them to access the health services they need.
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How PrEP Drugs Affect HIV Risk in Women and Reproductive Health
This project looks at how PrEP medicines work for women, and whether they influence pregnancy-related processes in the uterus.
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A woman-controlled, nonhormonal on-demand contraceptive device
This project is creating a woman-controlled vaginal device that releases a fabric-like polymer which thickens on contact with semen to help prevent pregnancy.
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STI testing added to PrEP programs to protect women from HIV
Offering STI testing alongside routine risk screening to see if more women aged 15–39 start and keep using PrEP to prevent HIV.
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.