iPrevent: Engaging youth as long-acting HIV prevention product co-researchers in Cape Town, South Africa.

South African youth are one of the highest risk groups, globally, for HIV acquisition. Identifying prevention methods that will be acceptable and used consistently is an urgent priority. Engaging youth as co-designers is a targeted strategy to achieve the goal of developing prevention products that meet youth's needs.

Characteristics of COVID-19 Workplace Clusters in Rhode Island.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted certain workplace settings disproportionately, putting some industries at a higher risk for workplace transmission than others. This study examines workplace clusters in Rhode Island between March 2020 and May 2021. There were 14,580 cases associated with 2784 clusters during this period, with the largest number of workplace clusters occurring in manufacturing, food services, and retail.

Adolescent girls and young women's PrEP-user journey during an implementation science study in South Africa and Kenya.

Successful scale-up of PrEP for HIV prevention in African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) requires integration of PrEP into young women's everyday lives. We conducted interviews and focus group discussions with 137 AGYW PrEP users aged 16-25 from South Africa and Kenya. Individual and relational enablers and disablers were explored at key moments during their PrEP-user journey from awareness, initiation and early use through persistence, including PrEP pauses, restarts, and discontinuation.

Experiences of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use disclosure among South African adolescent girls and young women and its perceived impact on adherence.

Introduction: There is limited understanding of how social dynamics impact pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in generalized HIV-epidemic settings. We examined experiences of oral PrEP use disclosure to various social groups with the goal of identifying supportive relationships that can be leveraged to promote adherence.

Methods: We used qualitative methods to explore experiences disclosing PrEP use and the perceived impact of disclosure on adherence among 22 South African AGYW (16-25 years) taking daily oral PrEP.

The PrEP Journey: Understanding How Internal Drivers and External Circumstances Impact The PrEP Trajectory of Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cape Town, South Africa.

Despite high risk for HIV, South African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) experience numerous challenges with adherence to PrEP. To better understand AGYW's motivations for PrEP and factors that impact PrEP adherence, we conducted serial in-depth interviews with 22 South African AGYW during a 12 month prospective study. Interviews explored motivations and initial experiences of PrEP use, patterns of adherence, social support, and reasons for stopping or persisting with PrEP.

Design of an Implant for Long-Acting HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: Input from South African Health Care Providers.

Implants are in the pre-clinical stage for long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), with an opportunity to solicit end-users' feedback early in development. Health care providers (HCPs) have been key gatekeepers for contraceptive implant uptake, and uniquely understand both technical considerations and the social context of use. Given their influential role, we gathered South African HCP perspectives on contraceptive implant implementation and features of PrEP implant prototypes that may influence future provider and patient acceptability.

The relationship between vaginal ring use and intimate partner violence and social harms: formative research outcomes from the CHARISMA study in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Despite being designed for autonomous use, research suggests partner approval is often in women's microbicide use. Microbicide study participants have described many ways product use affects relationships, from improving sexual pleasure to increasing harm, including exacerbating intimate partner violence (IPV). As the dapivirine ring proceeds closer to licensure, supporting women's agency to use microbicides safely is a priority.