Developing and pre-testing a sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) school health promotion intervention to reduce sexual transmission of HIV in a high-burden rural setting in KwaZulu-Natal

Using innovative approaches and delivery platforms to improve demand and uptake of SRH and HIV-prevention among adolescents is key. I aim to adapt and evaluate a school health-promotion intervention to improve SRH and HIV-prevention uptake among 15-19-year-old learners in rural KZN. I will use the MRC-framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions to guide this work, using a mixed-method study design. I will use participatory research methods to inform the intervention contextual adaptation and integration of biomedical HIV-prevention. I will pilot and assess acceptability and feasibility of the adapted intervention using process evaluation and pre and post surveys to measure changes in self-reported SRH and HIV-risk behaviours in learners. I will provide exploratory data from the clinics on effect of the intervention on improving uptake of SRH and biomedical HIV-prevention services. This work will inform future trials and scale-up of sustainable school-based interventions for HIV-prevention.