Suubi4PrEP Stakeholders’ Meeting

Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) earlier this year, Suubi4PrEP is a five-year study (2025-2029) that examines the impact of a multilevel combination intervention focused on PrEP initiation and adherence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) living in HIV hotspots in Uganda. As part of the ongoing study preparation activities, the study team convened the first stakeholder’s engagement meeting in Masaka, Uganda. The goal of this meeting was to introduce the study and study procedures, obtain feedback, and discuss emerging issues in HIV prevention in the region.

The meeting brought together over 70 key community stakeholders from each of the seven districts that comprise the study region, including District Health Officials (DHOs), Community PrEP Peers, PrEP technical experts and trainers, Community mobilizers, as well as ICHAD staff. Dr. Proscovia Nabunya, ICHAD Director and one of the study’s principal investigators facilitated the meeting.

Dr. Nabunya facilitating a session with stakeholders

Discussions focused on HIV prevalence among adolescent girls and young women in the study region, barriers to PrEP use, addressing PrEP associated stigma, as well as procedures related to recruitment and retention of study participants. The DHOs talked about emerging issues in HIV prevention for consideration, such as the integration of PrEP services within sexual and reproductive healthcare services, and the importance of engaging men in similar HIV prevention studies. The meeting also introduced the concept of a Community Collaborative Board (CCB) to guide the implementation of the study. Interested stakeholders were invited to a separate meeting to discuss the roles and responsibilities of a CCB. Twelve members agreed to serve on the Suubi4PrEP study CCB.