An interventional study of CoPrev model and Referral to the nearest responsible health facility in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), sponsored by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. Withdrawn at 2 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 15 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-16.
Sponsored by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
This cluster-randomized intervention is embedded in the ComBaCaL (Community-Based Chronic disease care Lesotho) cohort study (EKNZ ID AO_2022-00058, clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT05596773, Lesotho NH-REC ID 210-2022), a platform for the investigation of chronic diseases and their management in rural Lesotho that is maintained by local lay chronic care village health workers (CC-VHWs).
This study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the CoPrev model in regard to biomedical HIV prevention utilization compared with an enhanced standard of care, in which VHWs assisted by a tablet-based CDS application, perform the same activities except for the prescription and/or delivery of PEP, oral PrEP, COC and self-injectable contraception. Additionally, this study aims to assess the outcomes and processes related to the implementation of such a model.
Approximately 1.3 million new HIV infections were reported worldwide in 2024. Eastern and Southern Africa continue to bear the largest share of the HIV-related burden. To prevent lingering epidemics in these low-resource, high-prevalence regions, it is essential to intensify HIV prevention efforts, including the scale-up of effective biomedical HIV prevention, such as Pre-Exposure (PrEP) and Post- Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). However, uptake, persistent use and adherence to biomedical HIV prevention remains low among individuals at substantial risk of HIV acquisition, especially in rural areas. Thus, there is an urgent need for scalable, integrated, cost-effective, and context-specific service delivery models that increase the utilization of biomedical HIV prevention among populations at increased risk in Southern Africa.
This cluster-randomized intervention is embedded in the ComBaCaL (Community-Based Chronic disease care Lesotho) cohort study (EKNZ ID AO_2022-00058, clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT05596773, Lesotho NH-REC ID 210-2022), a platform for the investigation of chronic diseases and their management in rural Lesotho that is maintained by local lay chronic care village health workers (CC-VHWs).
The ComBaCaL HIV Preven7on (CoPrev) model is a differen7ated, community-based preven7on model, that provides eligible individuals with an alterna7ve to facility-based HIV preven7on and contracep7on. It builds on the broader ComBaCaL model of care, which extends the role of VHWs beyond educa7on, counselling, screening, and referral, to include ac7ve management of preven7on and care services for selected condi7ons. This is enabled through a tablet-based CDS applica7on, allowing VHWs to independently prescribe and deliver selected medica7ons at community level.
Within the CoPrev model, VHWs, assisted by the CDS application, deliver an integrated HIV prevention package comprising HIV prevention education and counselling; HIV and HIV risk screening; condom provision; referral to health facilities, and the prescription and delivery of PEP (TDF/3TC/DTG) and oral PrEP (TDF/3TC) to those eligible. In addition, VHWs provide contraceptive services, including family planning education and counselling; pregnancy screening; referral to health facilities; and the delivery of refills of combined oral contraception (COC) and self-injectable contraception to those eligible.
3,035 studies on the registry are indexed under Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; 306 are open to participants now.
Browse Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome studies →University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland is the lead sponsor of 990 studies on the registry; 189 are open to participants now.
Compared within Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, the registry's first condition term, which may not be this study's main condition. Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily. How we classify →
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At substantial risk of HIV acquisition as per behavioural risk factors in the Lesotho's national HIV prevention and treatment guidelines:
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
In the intervention villages, VHWs will follow the standard service protocol of the ComBaCaL cohort study, but in line with the CoPrev model, will also be able to additionally prescribe and deliver drugs for biomedical HIV prevention (PEP (TDF/3TC/DTG 300mg/300mg/50mg) or oral PrEP (TDF/3TC 300mg/300mg)) and offer refills for contraception (EE/LNG 30mcg/15mcg or 50mcg/15mcg) or self-injectable contraception (s.c. 104mg/0.65ml medroxypregosteronacetate). VHWs will provide monitoring for all dispensed drug regimens, thereby ensuring comprehensive and integrated sexual and reproductive health services within their communities.
Other: CoPrev model
In the control villages, VHWs will follow the standard service protocol of the ComBaCaL cohort study. Using the tablet-based CDS application, they will be trained and supervised to educate participants on HIV prevention, screen for HIV offering oral HIV self-tests, assess HIV risk behaviour, provide risk reduction counselling and condoms, and refer participants eligible for biomedical HIV prevention to the nearest health facility. Furthermore, they will offer family planning education, pregnancy screening, and refer participants for contraception.
Other: Referral to the nearest responsible health facility
* prescribe and deliver drugs for biomedical HIV prevenTion (PEP (TDF/3TC/DTG 300mg/300mg/50mg) or oral PrEP (TDF/3TC 300mg/300mg)) * offer refills for contraception (EE/LNG 30mcg/15mcg or 50mcg/15mcg) or self-injectable contraception (s.c. 104mg/0.65ml medroxypregosteronacetate * monitoring for all dispensed drug regimens
* refer participants eligible for biomedical HIV prevention to the nearest health facility * offer family planning education, pregnancy screening, and refer participants for contraception.
Monthly biomedical HIV prevention coverage over 6 months after enrolment
Biomedical HIV prevention coverage is defined at the person- month level as a binary indicator of whether a participant was covered by a biomedical HIV prevention method (PEP (TDF/3TC/DTG), oral PrEP (TDF/3TC), or injectable PrEP) during a given 30-day month within the six-month observation period following enrolment in the ComBaCaL HIV prevention TwiCs .
Time frame: Single assessment visit scheduled approximately six months after enrolment (180 days)
Plan to share: Yes — An anonymized key dataset necessary for reproducing the primary and key secondary endpoints will be made freely available in an appropriate repository, such as zenodo.org, alongside the publication of the study results. Besides removal of variables not required for key analysis, we will remove participant identifier, study site and exact date information. Requests for access to more detailed data may be made to the corresponding author by submitting a proposal, which will be reviewed by the trial consortium.
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This study is withdrawn, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome →
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