Protecting Against Lenacapavir Misinformation With Young Women in Gauteng, South Africa ( PROTECT-L)

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Misinformation, Lenacapavir

In brief

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa remain disproportionately affected by HIV, with prevalence among 15-24-year-olds at 9.4% in 2024 despite expanded access to condoms, HIV testing, and oral PrEP. While oral PrEP is effective, its reliance on daily adherence and regular follow-up has limited impact for many young women. Lenacapavir (LEN), the first long-acting injectable PrEP administered twice yearly, offers a promising alternative that could improve persistence and protection. However, LEN's potential may be undermined by misinformation, particularly around safety and trust, which has been shown in other HIV prevention contexts to reduce uptake and demand. Proactive strategies, such as psychological inoculation, are therefore needed to prebunk misinformation and support future LEN implementation among AGYW. Primary objective: To compare changes in intentions to receive Lenacapavir following misinformation exposure in groups with and without psychological inoculation and behavioural economics boost. Secondary objectives: (1) To compare believability and persuasiveness of misinformation claims and motivational threat associated with misinformation in groups with and without psychological inoculation and behavioural economics boost. (2) To explore subgroup effects by relevant sociodemographic and behavioural factors including HIV risk, PrEP history, COVID-19 vaccine history, general vaccine hesitancy, and information avoidance. The investigators will conduct a two-arm randomized controlled trial of 2-3 inoculation messages that address emerging myths and misinformation about Lenacapavir in South Africa. Participants will be randomly assigned to a control group or an intervention arm: enhanced inoculation message with insights from behavioural economics.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07518914

Run by

University of Pennsylvania

People needed

1500

Starts

2026-05-19

Expected to finish

2029-04-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-26

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 29. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Female (cisgender or transgender)
• Age 18-29 years
• Self-reported history of sexual activity in the past 12 months
• Self-reported HIV-negative status or unknown HIV status at enrolment
• Willing and able to provide consent
• Able to read and understand English

You may not qualify if…

• Unwilling or unable to provide consent for study participation.

Where it is running

• Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand — Johannesburg, South Africa (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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