Tablet-based peer support to help female university students in Zambia use PrEP and contraception
A Mobile Health Intervention to Increase Uptake of PrEP and Contraception Among Female University Students in Zambia
A tablet-led peer navigator program to help female university students in Zambia learn about and start using PrEP and modern contraception.
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 ID | NIH-11178682 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would use a tablet app run by trained peer navigators that asks about my risk for HIV and unintended pregnancy, gives clear education, and helps me find sexual and reproductive health services. The program lets me choose how much peer support I want, tracks clinic visits and use of PrEP or contraception, and sends regular messages to help me stay on prevention. Researchers will refine the app and approach using interviews, surveys, and small pilot tests before expanding the program. The project focuses specifically on high-risk female students at universities in Zambia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Female university students in Zambia who are sexually active or at risk for HIV infection or unintended pregnancy are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are not female university students in Zambia, those who prefer only in-person services, or those already stably using PrEP and modern contraception may not gain direct benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it easier for young women to start and stay on PrEP and contraception, reducing HIV infections and unintended pregnancies.
How similar studies have performed: Similar mobile health and peer-support programs have increased uptake of HIV prevention and family planning services in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, but combining both for Zambian female university students is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hampanda, Karen Marie — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Hampanda, Karen Marie
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 below.