Community Perspectives and Behavior Change Strategies for Integrated Long-Acting Reversible Contraception and Long-Acting Injectable PrEP Roll Out for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda (COMPASS): Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Implementation Science Study (Preprint)

作者：Phionah Kibalama Ssemambo, Rita Nakalega, H. Benjamin, Nelson Mukiza, Juliane Etima, Clemensia Nakabiito, Mary Glenn Fowler, Andrew Mujugira · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.2196/preprints.88635 · 研究领域：Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health、HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk、HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions

BACKGROUND HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15–24 years in Eastern and Southern Africa remains unacceptably high. Unprotected sex not only increases the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections but also contributes to the high rate of unintended pregnancies, reflecting the persistent unmet need for effective contraception among AGYW. Promising biomedical advances such as long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP) and long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) offer effective, durable protection against HIV and unintended pregnancy. However, uptake and persistence remain suboptimal due to barriers such as low awareness, fear of side effects, stigma, limited decision-making autonomy, and the lack of integrated reproductive health and HIV prevention services. Evidence on how community-driven and behaviorally informed strategies can effectively support the integrated rollout and uptake of LAI-PrEP and LARC among AGYW in Uganda remains limited. OBJECTIVE The study aims to determine the preferences and willingness of AGYW in Uganda to use LARC and LAI-PrEP; and to characterize stakeholder perceptions, practices, and social norms that may influence the adoption of integrated LARC and LAI-PrEP services. It applies the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behavior (COM-B) model to identify key facilitators and barriers to uptake and adherence. METHODS This mixed-methods implementation science study, guided by th...