Acceptability Research on Integrated Point of Care Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Testing and Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT)

The study aims to estimate the incidence of STIs (Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea, and Trichomoniasis vaginalis) among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) initiating PrEP who received point-of-care STI testing plus Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) and those who received point-of-care STI testing but declined EPT. To assess the acceptability of point-to-care STI testing plus EPT for AGYW initiating oral PrEP and its impact on exposure to social harms. To assess the male partner's response and acceptability among those who received EPT. Estimate the cost of implementing rapid point-of-care diagnostic STI testing and EPT for AGYW in South Africa using PrEP compared to standard syndromic management. The study design aims to conduct a prospective cohort study among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and assess the incidence of select STIs detected by point-of-care testing, including C.trachomatis, N. gonorrhea, or T. vaginalis, over 12 months of follow-up. Moreover, to assess the acceptability of expedited partner treatment offered to AGYW with an STI and their partners who received EPT. To conduct a comparative cost analysis to estimate the cost per person tested using point-of-care STI testing with and without EPT incremental to the standard cost.