Problem

HIV prevalence among young people in Nigeria remains a major public health challenge, with low testing uptake due to stigma, confidentiality concerns, and limited youth-friendly services. Existing facility-based models fail to meet the needs of young people, especially in university settings, where confidentiality and autonomy are paramount. Traditional vending machine-based models have been successful for enhancing HIV self-testing uptake in the UK, USA, and Tanzania. However, barriers such as poor electricity, internet access, and a lack of vending machine culture in Nigeria necessitate context-specific adaptations. 



Product 

Project CareParcel introduces solar-powered 24-compartment community dropboxes for HIV self-testing kits deployed in two undergraduate halls of residence within the University of Ibadan community. To promote awareness and encourage usage, a peer-led awareness campaign will be implemented, leveraging student networks and social media platforms to engage the target population effectively. Young people can anonymously request test kits using a mobile-friendly webpage linked to our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages. After ordering, a unique code will be automatically sent to that IP address for a particular compartment, and the user can retrieve their kit at a convenient time without human interference. Local CBOs on the project will restock the parcels to prevent stockouts at certain intervals. Clients with reactive HIV results, or those in need of further services, will have the contact lists of affiliated CBOs in our consortium on our social media pages. This system ensures 24/7 accessibility, privacy, and a consistent supply of HIV self-testing kits. Our solution seeks to circumvent healthcare worker-associated stigma and promote autonomy in sexual health decision-making among adolescents and young adults (AYA). 

Impact

This project addresses a critical gap in HIV prevention among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria by focusing on university students, a group at high risk but with low testing uptake. By removing common barriers such as stigma, lack of privacy, and limited clinic hours, the drop-box model creates a more accessible and youth-friendly way to encourage HIV self-testing. Our innovation combines digital solutions with physical infrastructure to create a scalable, community-driven solutions that addresses context-specific barriers to HIV prevention uptake. Through this innovation, we aim to increase HIV self-testing uptake, enhance user autonomy and privacy, and improve linkage to care. 
