TY - JOUR
T1 - Yathu Yathu ("For us, by us"): Design of a cluster-randomised trial of the impact of community-based, peer-led comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents and young people aged 15 to 24 in Lusaka, Zambia
AU - Hensen, B.
AU - Phiri, M.
AU - Schaap, A.
AU - Floyd, S.
AU - Simuyaba, M.
AU - Mwenge, L.
AU - Sigande, L.
AU - Belemu, S.
AU - Shanaube, K.
AU - Simwinga, M.
AU - Fidler, S.
AU - Hayes, R.
AU - Ayles, H.
N1 - NPP
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, the growing population of adolescents and young people aged 15 to 24 face a high burden of HIV, and other preventable and treatable sexually transmitted infections. Despite this burden, adolescents and young people are the population least served by available sexual and reproductive (SRH) services. This trial aims to evaluate the impact of community-based peer-led SRH services, combined with a novel incentivised "loyalty card" system, on knowledge of HIV status and coverage of SRH services. Methods: A cluster-randomised trial (CRT) with embedded process and economic evaluation. Discussion: With little available evidence of the impact of community-based, peer-led services on coverage of SRH services, our study will provide evidence critical to expanding our knowledge of how to reach adolescents and young people. The "loyalty card" system is also a novel approach to providing SRH services. The delivery of community-based services supported by incentives in the form of loyalty cards is innovative, and may prove a simple strategy to improve access to SRH services. Adolescents and young people remain underserved by available SRH services; there remains a critical need to identify ways to provide adolescents and young people with access to SRH services. Rigorous evidence of whether this innovative strategy, with strong links to the local health facility, increases coverage of critical SRH services would add to the evidence-base of how to reach adolescents and young people.
AB - Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, the growing population of adolescents and young people aged 15 to 24 face a high burden of HIV, and other preventable and treatable sexually transmitted infections. Despite this burden, adolescents and young people are the population least served by available sexual and reproductive (SRH) services. This trial aims to evaluate the impact of community-based peer-led SRH services, combined with a novel incentivised "loyalty card" system, on knowledge of HIV status and coverage of SRH services. Methods: A cluster-randomised trial (CRT) with embedded process and economic evaluation. Discussion: With little available evidence of the impact of community-based, peer-led services on coverage of SRH services, our study will provide evidence critical to expanding our knowledge of how to reach adolescents and young people. The "loyalty card" system is also a novel approach to providing SRH services. The delivery of community-based services supported by incentives in the form of loyalty cards is innovative, and may prove a simple strategy to improve access to SRH services. Adolescents and young people remain underserved by available SRH services; there remains a critical need to identify ways to provide adolescents and young people with access to SRH services. Rigorous evidence of whether this innovative strategy, with strong links to the local health facility, increases coverage of critical SRH services would add to the evidence-base of how to reach adolescents and young people.
KW - HIV
KW - HIV testing
KW - Adolescents and young people
KW - Sexual and reproductive health
KW - Cluster randomised trial
U2 - 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106568
DO - 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106568
M3 - A1: Web of Science-article
SN - 1551-7144
VL - 110
JO - Contemporary Clinical Trials
JF - Contemporary Clinical Trials
M1 - 106568
ER -