Pharmacy delivery of HIV prevention and birth control for young women in Kenya
Official title: Exploring synergies in pharmacy-based delivery of PrEP and contraception for adolescent girls and young women in Kenya
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11191588 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers HIV prevention pills (PrEP) and birth control at pharmacies to help adolescent girls and young women in Kenya get and use both services more easily.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $163,421 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD115436-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11191588 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are HIV-negative adolescent girls and young women ages 15–24 in Kisumu, Kenya who are seeking contraception at participating retail pharmacies.
✕Less likely to help
People living with HIV, those outside the Kisumu area, those older than 24, or those who do not visit participating pharmacies would not be eligible or likely to benefit from this program.
What this research studies
If you are a girl or young woman in Kenya, you may already go to pharmacies for contraception instead of clinics and might also need HIV prevention. This project is working with the Kenya Ministry of Health to offer nurse-navigators at 20 pharmacies in Kisumu who can help you learn about and start daily oral PrEP or the dapivirine vaginal ring along with your birth control. About 1,900 women ages 15–24 who come to these pharmacies for contraception will be invited to join and researchers will follow whether getting both services at the pharmacy makes it easier to begin and keep using them. If it works, pharmacy-based integrated services could make it simpler for young women like you to protect against HIV and unplanned pregnancy without going to a clinic.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make it easier for young women to get HIV prevention and contraception, reducing new HIV infections and unintended pregnancies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows pharmacies can expand access to contraception and PrEP, but combining both services for young women in real-world pharmacy settings is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
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University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harrington, Elizabeth K — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Harrington, Elizabeth K
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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Mobile health tool to boost PrEP and contraception use among female university students in Zambia
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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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This study is testing a new implant that helps women prevent both pregnancy and HIV for up to two years without needing to take daily pills, making it easier and more discreet for those at risk.
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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.
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.