Title: Catalyzing access to new prevention products to stop HIV
Funded by: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through PEPFAR
Study Site:
- Chitungwiza (SHAZ Hub Youth Drop-In Centre at CitiMed Hospital)
- Masvingo (Runyararo Clinic & Ngundu Rural Health Centre)
- Plumtree (Plumtree District Hospital)
- Beitbridge (Beitbridge Wellness Centre)
- Bulawayo (Cowdray Park Clinic)
Purpose: To characterize and assess the implementation of an enhanced service delivery package that provided women with a choice of HIV prevention methods, and to refine a core, scalable PrEP service delivery model using quality improvement approaches. The study aimed to strengthen person-centered HIV prevention programming by ensuring that women can choose the method that best fits their lives.
Design: The CATALYST was an implementation research study conducted at PEPFAR-supported delivery sites. The study evaluated an enhanced PrEP service delivery package offering multiple biomedical HIV prevention options. Stage I focused on introducing oral PrEP and the PrEP ring, while collecting service delivery data to assess uptake and client experience. Stage II expanded method choice to include long-acting injectable CAB PrEP, further strengthening differentiated prevention options for women. Quality improvement methods are continuously applied to refine service delivery components and identify a core package that can be adapted for scale-up.
Study Duration: Stage I: June 2023 – March 2024 and Stage II: April 2024 – December 2025
Study Objectives:
- Assess uptake, continuation, and client experience of multiple PrEP methods within routine service delivery settings.
- Evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an enhanced, choice-based PrEP service delivery model.
- Use quality improvement approaches to refine implementation components and define a scalable core service delivery package.
- Strengthen women’s autonomy by embedding informed choice into HIV prevention programming.
Study Population: Women accessing HIV prevention services at selected PEPFAR-supported facilities, including:
- Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW)
- Women aged 25 years and older
During Stage I in Zimbabwe, 935 women were enrolled, of whom:
- 36% were AGYW
- 64% were women aged 25 years and above
Study Outcomes:
- Improved understanding of how women engage with different PrEP methods when offered choice.
- Evidence to inform national and global PrEP introduction strategies.
- Identification of optimized service delivery components for scaling multi-method PrEP access.
- Enhanced integration of long-acting and daily prevention options within routine health systems.
Read More: MOSAIC | Pangaea Zimbabwe