WhatsApp and Zoom

TuConnect TuPrEP Monthly Zoom Meeting Report - August 2025

Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
Time: 3:07 PM - 4:13 PM EAT
Topic: Creating Demand For PrEP among Adolescents and Young Women
Meeting Duration: 66 minutes
Format: Member-Led Discussion

Executive Summary

The TuConnect TuPrEP Community of Practice conducted its monthly meeting focusing on strategies for creating demand for PrEP among adolescents and young women. The session was led by a participant, sharing a 6-step framework developed at their facility. The meeting generated practical discussions about adolescent engagement challenges, community outreach strategies, and provider training needs.

Platform Feedback Session

The meeting began with feedback collection on CoP platforms:

Website Resources: Participants reported regular use of guidelines and training materials, with one member visiting 2-3 times weekly for reference materials. Resources are being shared with colleagues at other facilities.

WhatsApp Engagement: Members find the platform helpful for daily learning and peer consultation.

Resource Accessibility: Online materials are accessible and downloadable, supporting ongoing professional development.

Primary Presentation: 6-Step Framework

Maureen presented a systematic approach developed to address information gaps among adolescents and young women:

Step 1: Introduce PrEP Broadly

• Begin with broad introduction targeting adolescents and young women

• Build trust and avoid stigmatization

• Position PrEP as product for any HIV-negative person wanting to remain negative

• Create excitement and confidence in effectiveness

Step 2: Give Her A Reason To Care About PrEP

• Frame conversations within contexts adolescents care about

• Focus on relationships (partners, parents, friends) and identity

• Avoid HIV risk-focused messaging

• Use proactive, self-protective, empowering language

Step 3: Speak To Her

• Help identify internal motivation to act

• Connect to personal sense of purpose

• Find individual drivers for sustained motivation

Step 4: Equip Her To Make An Informed Choice

• Provide compelling, comprehensible, memorable information

• Cover HIV transmission, PrEP mechanism, cumulative protection

• Address expectations and proper usage

• Build confidence in decision-making

Step 5: Delight Her Where She Thinks She Will Falter

• Address adherence challenges proactively

• Acknowledge barriers: privacy concerns, daily pill burden, seasons of risk

• Create feasible solutions

• Support planning for anticipated challenges

Step 6: Right Person, Right Time

• Equip key influencers (peers, nurses, CHPs)

• Ensure knowledge and empathy in approach

• Meet clients where they are with compelling information

Case Study Discussion

A participant shared a detailed case involving a young woman seeking family planning services who also needed PrEP.

Key learning points:

Privacy Challenges: Client became uncomfortable when male healthcare worker entered consultation space, limiting open communication about sexual health needs.

Service Integration Gaps: Focus on single service (family planning) without considering complementary HIV prevention needs.

Communication Barriers: Age and communication style differences between providers and Gen Z clients affecting service delivery.

Community Outreach Strategies

A Member shared successful approaches:

School-Based Mobilization:

• CHPs coordinate with school health teachers

• Healthcare workers conduct targeted sessions at high schools

• Students encouraged to access services on designated days

• Address confidentiality concerns through discrete service access

Communication Approach:

• Use age-appropriate language and concepts

• Build rapport through shared experiences

• Address misconceptions about PrEP and HIV prevention

• Provide comprehensive information about available options

Key Takeaways

The 6-step framework addresses critical information gaps by moving beyond traditional HIV risk messaging to focus on relationships, identity, and empowerment. Successful adolescent engagement requires age-appropriate communication, privacy protection, and proactive adherence support. Community outreach through schools shows promise when combined with facility-based services, though CHP roles need careful consideration of confidentiality concerns.