Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2014

Abstract

Zimbabwe has seen a tremendous shift in the HIV landscape in the last decade, particularly regarding prevalence. Yet many people, especially women, are still at high risk and efforts to identify and implement additional HIV-prevention options remain critical. After nearly 20 years of microbicides research, 1 percent tenofovir gel is the first vaginal microbicide to show promise. Since 2011, Zimbabwe has been scaling up use of tenofovir-based regimens as first-line therapy for adults infected with HIV. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial demonstrated that women assigned to use 1 percent tenofovir gel had a 39 percent lower risk of HIV infection compared with women in the placebo arm. Policymakers and other stakeholders need information to guide decision-making regarding introduction of new HIV-prevention products. The Population Council developed a toolkit to assist policymakers and program managers in identifying strategic opportunities for introducing tenofovir gel. The toolkit consists of a landscape analysis, discussion guide, and program planning guide. A key element of the toolkit development process has been to test it among key opinion leaders (KOLs) in several countries, including Zimbabwe. This report describes the process and outcomes of a systematic inquiry among KOLs in Zimbabwe.

DOI

10.31899/hiv9.1011

Language

English

Project

Implementation Science Research to Inform Microbicide Introduction

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