Introduction
An estimated 26% of South African women are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [The Community Health Clinical Model for Agency in Relationships and Safer Microbicide Adherence (CHARISMA) intervention was designed specifically to mitigate relationship challenges and increase agency to use PrEP in South African women, thereby addressing multiple factors that influence their risk of HIV acquisition [Qualitative research complements quantitative data collection in RCTs, offering the potential to explore more complex aspects of the intervention and its implementation with greater depth [The aim of this qualitative sub-study was to understand women’s experiences with the CHARISMA trial and explore potential mechanisms of change with the CHARISMA intervention. We focused specifically on exploring these experiences and mechanisms according to the CHARISMA intervention theory of change (presented in Fig. CHARISMA intervention theory of change with additional qualitatively narrated outcomes