Thetha Nami ngithethe nawe (Let’s Talk): a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial of social mobilisation by peer navigators into community-based sexual health and HIV care, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to reduce sexually transmissible HIV amongst young people in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Busang Jacob , Zuma Thembelihle , Herbst Carina , Okeselo Nonhlanhla , Chimbindi Natsayi , Dreyer Jaco , Mtshali Nelisiwe , Smit Theresa , Ngubune Samkelisiwe , Hlongwane Siphesihle , Gumede Dumsani , Jalazi Ashley , Mdl Simphiweyenkosi , Bird Kristien , Msane Sithembile , Danisa Priscilla , Hanekom Willem , Lebina Limakatso , Behuhuma Ngundu , Hendrickson Cheryl , Miot Jacqui , Seeley Janet , Harling Guy , Jaralimova Jana , Sherr Lorraine , Copas Andrew , Baisley Kathy , Shahmanesh Maryam 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) through universal test and treat (UTT) and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) substantially reduces HIV-related mortality and incidence. Effective ART based prevention has not translated into population-level impact in southern Africa due to sub-optimal coverage among youth. We aim to investigate the effectiveness, implementation and cost effectiveness of peer-led social mobilisation into decentralised integrated HIV and sexual reproductive health (SRH) services amongst adolescents and young adults in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

Methods

We are conducting a type 1a hybrid effectiveness/implementation study, with a cluster randomized stepped-wedge trial (SWT) to assess effectiveness and a realist process evaluation to assess implementation outcomes. The SWT will be conducted in 40 clusters in rural KZN over 45 months. Clusters will be randomly allocated to receive the intervention in period 1 (early) or period 2 (delayed). 1) Intervention arm: Resident peer navigators in each cluster will approach young men and women aged 15-30 years living in their cluster to conduct health, social and educational needs assessment and tailor psychosocial support and health promotion, peer mentorship, and facilitate referrals into nurse led mobile clinics that visit each cluster regularly to deliver integrated SRH and differentiated HIV prevention (HIV testing, UTT for those positive, and PrEP for those eligible and negative). Standard of Care is UTT and PrEP delivered to 15-30 year olds from control clusters through primary health clinics. There are 3 co-primary outcomes measured amongst cross sectional surveys of 15-30 year olds: 1) effectiveness of the intervention in reducing the prevalence of sexually transmissible HIV; 2) uptake of universal risk informed HIV prevention intervention; 3) cost of transmissible HIV infection averted. We will use a realist process evaluation to interrogate the extent to which the intervention components support demand, uptake, and retention in risk-differentiated biomedical HIV prevention.

Discussion

The findings of this trial will inform the scale up of social mobilization into community-based sexual and reproductive health interventions optimized to support the uptake and retention of adolescents and young adults in long term HIV treatment, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and other prevention, and contraception.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier- NCT05405582. Registered: 6th June 2022