Trends in Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Gauteng Province, South Africa: A Study Protocol

Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) plays an important role as part of a combination HIV prevention strategy for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), a sub-population at continued elevated risk of HIV, compared to their male peers. The current study aims to analyze temporal trends and demographic patterns in PrEP uptake among AGYW aged 15-24 in Gauteng Province, focusing specifically on Tshwane and Ekurhuleni Districts. The quantitative approach, specifically a longitudinal retrospective cohort design, will be used to examine the temporal trends and demographic patterns of PrEP uptake amongst the AGYWs in Gauteng. The study will be conducted within a post-positivist epistemological approach using secondary data to investigate trends and patterns in PrEP use, particularly among AGYWs aged 15-24 years in Gauteng Province, primarily in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni District. The study will employ a total population sampling of all who meet the inclusion criteria. The data from the current study will be obtained from the DHIS electronic database. Data management and analysis will be performed using SPSS, ensuring a robust and systematic examination of the data. The coding procedures, protocols for data cleaning, and statistical techniques to minimize errors and ensure consistent analysis will all further support reliability. The construct validity will be ensured by showing how the findings from each included dataset reflect the constructs they are studying, such as PrEP use, adherence, and HIV incidence among AGYW. Ethical considerations will be ensured, and results will be interpreted according to the findings of the study