Understanding and Addressing the Multi-level Influences on Uptake and Adherence to HIV Prevention Strategies Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa (R01) | RFA MH 17 550

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 17 550

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity "Understanding and Addressing the Multi-level Influences on Uptake and Adherence to HIV Prevention Strategies Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-MH-17-550) supports research focused on why adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa do or do not start using HIV prevention options and, just as importantly, what helps them continue using those options consistently over time. The initiative has two connected aims: first, to build stronger evidence on the real-world, multi-level drivers of prevention uptake and adherence among AGYW; and second, to design and rigorously test new interventions that directly address those drivers and improve prevention outcomes. The funding mechanism is an R01 research project grant, which typically supports substantial, multi-year studies that can include intervention development and evaluation.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on multi-level influences rather than treating HIV prevention behavior as purely an individual choice. Applicants are expected to examine layered determinants that shape AGYW decision-making and ability to access and stick with prevention strategies. This includes individual-level factors (knowledge, risk perception, mental health, trauma exposure, self-efficacy, side-effect concerns, stigma, preferences, and daily routines), interpersonal dynamics (male partners, age-disparate relationships, negotiation power, intimate partner violence, family support or opposition, peer influence, and relationship expectations), and broader community and societal forces (local cultural practices, gender norms, social expectations, religious and moral narratives, stigma at school or in the community, and the way services are delivered). The initiative also highlights structural constraints that can make adherence difficult even when motivation is high, such as poverty, transportation barriers, clinic accessibility, legal or policy environments, school attendance demands, confidentiality concerns for minors, and health system factors like provider attitudes, stock-outs, and youth-unfriendly services.

In practical terms, the research supported under this announcement is meant to move beyond describing barriers and instead produce actionable solutions. Projects may involve developing novel, context-sensitive interventions or adapting existing approaches to better fit AGYW realities in sub-Saharan Africa. Interventions could operate at one level (for example, a youth-centered adherence support program) or intentionally span multiple levels (for example, combining individual adherence support with partner or family engagement strategies, peer network approaches, and clinic-level service improvements). A strong application would typically link its proposed intervention components directly to the specific multi-level barriers and facilitators identified in formative research or prior evidence, then test effectiveness using rigorous study designs appropriate to the setting.

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, with a health-related activity category, and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.865. The original posting indicates a closing date of 2016-12-20, reflecting that this was a time-limited solicitation, but the summary of goals and expectations remains useful as a model for what NIH was seeking: research that clarifies why prevention methods are underused or inconsistently used by AGYW and that tests interventions capable of improving both uptake and sustained adherence under real-life conditions.

Eligibility is broad, reflecting an interest in drawing on diverse institutional capabilities and partnerships. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly notes additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations based outside the United States can apply. This wide eligibility aligns with the reality that high-quality HIV prevention research and intervention testing in sub-Saharan Africa often depends on cross-sector and cross-country collaborations, including partnerships with local implementers and community organizations.

Overall, this NIH R01 opportunity is centered on improving HIV prevention impact for AGYW in sub-Saharan Africa by funding research that (1) maps the full ecosystem of influences on prevention behavior and (2) creates and tests interventions that fit that ecosystem, acknowledging that adherence and uptake are shaped by relationships, community norms, and structural access issues as much as by individual intention.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding and Addressing the Multi-level Influences on Uptake and Adherence to HIV Prevention Strategies Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242, 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-08-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-12-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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