Using mobile health tools to improve contraception and HIV prevention among female university students in Zambia
Official title: mHealth Intervention to Increase Uptake of Contraception and PrEP Among Female University Students in Zambia
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10950385 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $262,627 |
| NIH project number | 4R33MH131281-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10950385 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are female university students in Zambia who are at high risk for HIV infection and unintended pregnancies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not female university students or those who are not at risk for HIV or unintended pregnancies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to address the high rates of HIV infection and unintended pregnancies among female university students in Zambia by implementing a mobile health intervention. The project will utilize a peer navigator system facilitated through a tablet-based platform to provide education, assess risks, and connect young women to necessary health services. By tracking health service usage and offering ongoing support, the intervention seeks to enhance the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and modern contraception among this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the rates of HIV and unintended pregnancies among female university students in Zambia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using mobile health interventions to improve health outcomes in similar populations, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hampanda, Karen Marie — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Hampanda, Karen Marie
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
A mobile, peer-supported program helps young women in Zambia start and stick with PrEP and modern contraception to prevent HIV and unintended pregnancy.
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Tablet-based peer support to help female university students in Zambia use PrEP and contraception
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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How PrEP Drugs Affect HIV Risk in Women and Reproductive Health
This project looks at how PrEP medicines work for women, and whether they influence pregnancy-related processes in the uterus.
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A woman-controlled, nonhormonal on-demand contraceptive device
This project is creating a woman-controlled vaginal device that releases a fabric-like polymer which thickens on contact with semen to help prevent pregnancy.
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STI testing added to PrEP programs to protect women from HIV
Offering STI testing alongside routine risk screening to see if more women aged 15–39 start and keep using PrEP to prevent HIV.
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.