Understanding adolescents' ability to consent to HIV prevention in Rakai, Uganda
Official title: Improving understanding of Capacity to consent to sensitive biomedical HIV prevention Research among adolescents in Rakai Uganda (ICARE)
Funded at Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy · NIH-11262200 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether adolescents in Rakai, Uganda understand and can give consent for sensitive HIV prevention work and what they think about oral and injectable PrEP.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 8, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $447,925 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH134695-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262200 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents and young people in the Rakai District of Uganda (roughly ages 12–20) who are willing to talk about sexual health and consent would be the ideal participants.
✕Less likely to help
People who live outside the Rakai region, are older adults, or do not want to discuss sexual and reproductive health are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
You would be invited to take part through the Rakai Community Cohort Study and answer questions and scenarios about consent, decision-making, and sexual health. The team will compare how younger and older adolescents make decisions and test understanding of key consent information for HIV prevention options. They will also ask about eligibility, beliefs, and interest in oral and injectable PrEP. Results will be used to build a digital toolkit to help include adolescents in future HIV prevention activities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could help more adolescents safely join HIV prevention efforts and improve access to PrEP options designed for young people.
How similar studies have gone: While adult studies and a few adolescent projects have looked at consent and PrEP, applying consent-capacity testing and a digital toolkit specifically for adolescents in Rakai is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kreniske, Philip — Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
- Study coordinator: Kreniske, Philip
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Making HIV prevention and care easier for Ugandan youth
A Ugandan study is testing ways to help adolescents and young adults (15–24) prevent HIV and stay healthy, using long-acting PrEP and youth-friendly services.
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Innovative HIV Prevention and Care Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults in Uganda
A Ugandan research team is testing practical, youth-focused strategies to help 15-24 year-olds using HIV prevention or treatment services stay healthy and engaged in care.
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Adolescent girls in Uganda: a long-term look at how money empowerment and family support affect HIV prevention, care, and mental health
A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
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Long-term HIV prevention and mental health support for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda
A long-term program in rural Uganda tests if combining economic support and family strengthening helps teenage girls stay HIV-free and improve mental health as they grow into young adults.
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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.
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.