Multi-level HIV prevention in Ghana through community pharmacies
Official title: A multi-level intervention to upscale HIV testing and PrEP uptake for men with high HIV exposure via community pharmacies in resource-limited settings
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11587443 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-level program tests using community pharmacies in Ghana to boost HIV testing and PrEP uptake among men at high risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $171,909 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH140750-01S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11587443 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men in Ghana with high HIV exposure who visit community pharmacies and are open to HIV testing and PrEP.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV exposure risk or those not using or seeking HIV testing/PrEP in this setting may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests how community pharmacies can be used to improve HIV testing and PrEP use for men in Ghana who are at high risk. It will implement strategies with pharmacists, self-testing options, and both oral and long-acting injectable PrEP to address barriers like confidentiality and access. The study follows men in real pharmacy settings to see what works best to increase testing, initiation, and adherence. It builds on pilots showing willingness from men and pharmacists to participate, and it aims to identify practical, scalable approaches for resource-limited settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make HIV testing and PrEP more accessible and acceptable in communities, reducing new infections.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary pilots indicate willingness to adopt pharmacy-based HIV services, with limited systematic testing in this setting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abu-Ba'are, Gamji Rabiu — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Abu-Ba'are, Gamji Rabiu
Related research
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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.
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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.
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TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
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CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
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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.