Introduction
CNS INFECTIONS
In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls, and young women (AGYW) aged 15–24 years old are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, with the majority of new infections in 15–19-year-olds occurring among females [Truvada® (emtricitabine [FTC] and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [TDF]) used once daily for oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been a cornerstone of HIV prevention efforts since its approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 [A one-month intravaginal ring containing the antiretroviral drug dapivirine (ring) was shown to reduce the risk of HIV-1 acquisition by approximately 30% in two Phase 3 trials among healthy female adults in sub-Saharan Africa [To that end, the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) implemented MTN-034/REACH (Reversing the Epidemic in Africa with Choices in HIV Prevention)to evaluate the safety, adherence, acceptability, and preference of the ring versus oral PrEP. Here we report on the baseline characteristics and pre-use product preferences of participants enrolled in the trial