Community based interventions to improve HIV outcomes in adolescents: a cluster randomised trial in Zimbabwe

The aim of the public engagement programme is to improve youth engagement with health services and to have them as active partners in design and delivery of health interventions. We aim to utilize a crowdsourcing approach where a large group of individuals attempt to solve a problem, and share solutions with the public, to identify solutions to overcome barriers to engagement with health services. We will organize a national contest for 16-24 year olds in Zimbabwe, soliciting entries in three artistic categories: 1) music 2) drama and 3) visual images, specifically themed on how to improve engagement of youth with health services. We will hold a national festival where entries will be showcased. Winning entries will then be implemented within my Wellcome Trust funded trial (CHIEDZA) that is evaluating community-based provision of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for youth. We also run a Youth Researcher Academy to train youth researchers who will then conduct mentored research projects to evaluate the CHIEDZA intervention. Findings will help improve the configuration and delivery of the intervention.

The project will be delivered in partnership with local community-based organisations and other key stakeholders. Our team combines expertise in research with youth, leaders in the arts in Zimbabwe and experts in crowdsourcing and process evaluation. The project will be evaluated and lessons learnt will be shared with stakeholders through a variety of channels. The project will provide a framework for youth engagement that can be used in other areas of health and research.