PrEP COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

HIV acquisition during pregnancy and breastfeeding poses a direct risk to infants and remains one of the primary drivers of new pediatric HIV infections. To address this challenge, the HIVE PrEP for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women Community of Practice (CoP) brings together Ministry of Health representatives from the six HIVE-supported countries to strengthen HIV prevention for this population, with a focus on expanding and improving access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

About the Community of Practice

Despite significant progress in expanding HIV treatment coverage, new maternal HIV infections acquired during pregnancy and breastfeeding continue to drive infant infections. In 2024, UNAIDS reported that 1 in 4 new pediatric HIV infections globally resulted from HIV acquisition during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Countries across the HIVE network are at various stages of delivering oral PrEP for pregnant and breastfeeding women and expanding options to include long-acting prevention options, including lenacapavir (LEN). However, countries continue to face challenges in optimizing repeat HIV testing, strengthening counseling that supports informed choice, integrating PrEP into routine maternal and child health services, and supporting women across the full prevention cascade.

The HIVE PrEP CoP was established in response to the rapid expansion of prevention opportunities; a moment which calls for structured peer learning and shared implementation across countries. The CoP provides a platform for HIVE network countries to share experiences, tools, and data; tackle common implementation challenges together; and use evidence to strengthen person-centered PrEP services for pregnant and breastfeeding women to ultimately accelerate progress toward the elimination of vertical transmission.

Focus and Activities

    • Differentiated service delivery
      Developing person-centered approaches to PrEP demand creation, eligibility assessment, initiation with choice counseling, and follow-up tailored to who is delivering care, where, and when.
    • Integration into maternal and child health settings
      Improving how PrEP fits into routine antenatal, postnatal, and child health services so women can access prevention alongside the care they are already receiving.
    • Country implementation experiences
      Creating space for countries to share what is working, what is not, and what others can learn from their experience across facility and community levels of care, with a focus on countries that have introduced LEN for pregnant and breastfeeding women
    • Practical tools and an Implementation Framework
      Documenting approaches and lessons learned, with outputs compiled into an Implementation Framework to be shared across the HIVE network.
    • The PrEP CoP convenes bi-monthly virtual sessions and facilitates peer exchange among HIVE network countries and partners. The CoP is led by Lulu Ndapatani, HIVE Clinical Advisor, ICAP in Kenya, in collaboration with Dr. Cassia Wells, HIVE Senior Technical Advisor, ICAP in South Africa.

 

Recordings and Resources

Prevention Resources

Resources

Guidance, tools, and learning materials designed to help programs strengthen HIV prevention efforts, improve service integration, and support informed, client-centered PrEP implementation across different settings.

Explore practical resources to support the delivery and scale-up of HIV prevention services, including PrEP for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women. >>>

March 2026 Meeting

At the community of practice launch meeting, country representatives, including the Ministry of Health, technical experts, and community members, shared experiences and practical lessons on implementing HIV prevention services with a focus on delivering person-centered PrEP services for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Recorded: March 31, 2026.

June 2026 Meeting

Session 2 of the HIVE PrEP for PBFW Community of Practice (CoP) meeting examined differentiated, person-centered approaches to identifying potential PrEP clients and strengthening PrEP initiation within maternal and child health settings. Recorded: June 4, 2026