Pharmacy-based PrEP to help women stay on HIV prevention in Zimbabwe
Official title: A randomized trial to determine impact, cost and cost effectiveness of pharmacy-based PrEP on PrEP continuation for women at high risk of HIV
Funded at Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe · NIH-11391666 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, patient-friendly trial tests whether letting women get PrEP refills from local pharmacies helps them stay on prevention more reliably and cost-effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Harare, Zimbabwe) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $42,639 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH140751-01S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391666 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women at high risk of HIV in Zimbabwe who are starting PrEP and are willing to use either pharmacy-based or clinic-based refills.
✕Less likely to help
Women who are unlikely to use medications regularly or who prefer clinic-only services may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on a successful pilot in Harare that showed good acceptability when PrEP refills could be picked up at community pharmacies. The trial will compare standard clinic-based refills with pharmacy-based refills, looking at how often participants continue PrEP over time and the costs involved. It will involve women at high risk of HIV, following them through pharmacy or clinic refill options and collecting data on adherence, barriers, and overall use. The study is embedded in Zimbabwe’s national KP program and aims to inform scalable strategies to keep women protected.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could make PrEP more accessible and affordable for women at risk, leading to higher continuation and better protection.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary pilot results indicated high acceptability and potential effectiveness of pharmacy-based PrEP refills, warranting a larger trial.
Where this research is happening
-
Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sibanda, Euphemia Lindelwe — Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe
- Study coordinator: Sibanda, Euphemia Lindelwe
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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
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.