PrEP programmes as a framework for tackling HBV infection in adolescents and young adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

<p dir="ltr">These materials have been presented at the Global Hepatitis Summit (GHS) 2025 in Los Angeles, to support the new <b>E</b>valuation of <b>V</b>ukuzazi <b>L</b>i<b>VE</b>r disease - Hepatitis B 'EVOLVE-HBV' study based at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.</p><p dir="ltr">‘EVOLVE-HBV’ research programme explored the PrEP uptake and retention cascade amongst adolescents and youth aged 15-30-year-olds and living with HBV through decentralized sexual health /HIV services of the ‘<i>Thetha nami ngithethe nawe’</i> and the Long-acting HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (LAPIS) study.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Specific Aim</b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Aim</b>: We set out to use data from PrEP studies to determine results of HBV screening, treatment uptake and retention amongst adolescents and young adults aged 15-30 years.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Ethics and governance</b></p><p dir="ltr">This work has been approved under the terms of the EVOLVE-HBV project ethics: University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BREC, ref. 00004495/2022) and University College London, UK ethics committee (ref. 23221/001 EVOLVE-HBV).</p><p dir="ltr">PrEP HIV studies: (BREC/00000473/2019 and BREC/00003735/2021).</p><p dir="ltr"><br></p><p dir="ltr"><br></p>