SCHIELD Study
About SCHIELD Study
Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Subcutaneous Contraceptive and HIV Implant Engineered for Long-Acting Delivery (SCHIELD) Multipurpose Prevention Technology (MPT) study sought to gather early, in-depth feedback from potential end-users and healthcare providers to inform the development of a dual-prevention implant designed to provide both contraception and HIV prevention. Participants included young women ages 18-30, health care providers with previous experience inserting and removing contraceptive implants, and key stakeholders in Soshanguve (and surrounding catchment areas), South Africa, and Harare and Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe.
Design
The study consisted of mixed-methods research in the form of focus group discussions (FGDs) with young women, in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health care providers and other key stakeholders, and quantitative assessments to inform the development of the SCHIELD implant. Study participants only viewed and touched implant prototypes – no products were inserted as part of the research.
Study Objectives
The SCHIELD study aimed to understand end-user preferences for key implant attributes and the social factors that may influence uptake of a dual-purpose contraceptive and HIV prevention implant. By gathering perspectives from young women, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders early in the product development process, the study sought to ensure that user feedback informed product design and future implementation strategies. Specifically, the research assessed preferences, acceptability, and social adoption factors among young women through focus group discussions and surveys, and among healthcare providers and key stakeholders through in-depth interviews and quantitative surveys.
Study Sites
Setshaba Research Centre, Pangaea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust
Study Outcomes
This research provided insight into South African and Zimbabwean end-user preferences for key attributes of the SCHIELD implant and other considerations relevant to future implementation of the implant in these two countries. The design of the prototype SCHIELD device, the applicator system, and key target product profile (TPP) attributes was optimized for future technology uptake by the incorporation of the perspectives of end-users and other relevant stakeholders.
