The cluster randomized trial (CRT) will not engage in PrEP provision to individuals, but instead employs geographical regions to serve as units of randomization where social media content and community engagement will be targeted. TB HIV Care employs a large team to provide routine service delivery while the CRT tests strategies including a social media campaign and community engagement that may amplify PrEP uptake and persistence among the community, leveraging the programme infrastructure to actually provide services as it is already doing. Embedding strategies within the programme ensures that the existing results come from real world contexts and focuses on implementation of support strategies rather than clinical care provision. The CRT will be implemented across 10 districts, with 5 districts serving as control sites and 5 as intervention sites.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a social media campaign and community engagement activities to promote pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among young women and to influence community norms around PrEP in South Africa. To do this, the investigative team will analyze PrEP initiation and retention data from the study's implementing partner, TB HIV Care, a non-profit organization providing PrEP to marginalized young women in South Africa. The effect of the social media campaign and community engagement will be tested using a short duration cluster randomized trial (CRT).