New Study Reveals Effective HIV Prevention Strategy for Young Adults in Rural South Africa

Strategic Insights -

A new cluster-randomized stepped-wedge trial in South Africa has shown that community-based peer navigators can effectively mobilize demand for HIV prevention and care among young adults in rural areas. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Africa Health Research Institute, aimed to investigate whether a tailored approach to HIV prevention could reach high-risk individuals who are not typically served by conventional services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 40 clusters in a rural health and demographic surveillance site in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and recruited 13,000 youth aged 15-30 years for the intervention.
  • Trained peer navigators conducted needs assessments with 9576 individuals, identifying 4138 (43.5%) with medium to high health needs, and referred them to mobile clinics for HIV testing and care.
  • Among the 2269 individuals who attended the mobile clinics, 92.7% underwent HIV testing, with 10.1% (212/2103) testing positive for HIV and starting ART for the first time.
  • The study found that community-based and person-centred approaches delivered through trained peer navigators can effectively link young adults with SRH and HIV prevention needs to mobile SRH services.
  • The prevalence of HIV was significantly higher among females (15.1%) compared to males (3.3%).

Statistics:

  • 9742 (74.9%) of the 13,000 youth in the target population were reached by peer-navigators between June 2022 and September 2023.
  • 46.8% of the individuals reached by peer-navigators were males.
  • 141 (1.5%) of the individuals with needs assessment had social needs, and 4138 (43.5%) had medium to high health needs.
  • 62 (29.2%) individuals who tested positive for HIV started ART for the first time.
  • HIV testing uptake was 92.7% (2103/2269).

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New HIV/AIDS Research Reported from Africa Health Research Institute (Person-centred HIV care and prevention for youth in rural South Africa: preliminary implementation findings from Thetha Nami ngithethe nawe stepped-wedge trial of peer-navigator mobilization into mobile sexual health services). AIDS Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 121.
  • Person-centred HIV care and prevention for youth in rural South Africa: preliminary implementation findings from Thetha Nami ngithethe nawe stepped-wedge trial of peer-navigator mobilization into mobile sexual health services. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 2025,28(S5):n/a-n/a. (Journal of the International AIDS Society - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1758-2652).
  • Thetha Nami ngithethe nawe stepped-wedge trial of peer-navigator mobilization into mobile sexual health services. Africa Health Research Institute.