Investigator(s)
| Submitter |
Namgay Choden Save the Children International Namgay Choden 
|
| Principal Investigator |
Thinley Dorji Save the Children International Bhutan Office Thinley Dorji
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Surjay Lepcha RedIT Consultancy Surjay Lepcha
|
Title(s) and abstract
| Scientific title | Process Evaluation for PrEP Pilot Project |
| Public title | Process Evaluation for PrEP Pilot Project |
| Background | The National HIV and STI Control Program (NACP) led the pilot project to roll out Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Bhutan in 2024 supported by Save the Children International through their Sustainability of HIV Services for Key Population in Southeast Asia project (SKPA2). SKPA 2 is also a Global fund funded project with Health Equity Matters (HEM) as the principal recipient. As such, the NACP had proposed for a study on PrEP pilot project in the SKPA 2026-2027 extension proposal. However, this had to be deprioritized in view of available budget. Given that SKPA 2 was able to allocate some balance fund in current grant to carry this activity out within 2025, a process evaluation for PrEP was approved by donor to be carried out with direct implementation by Save the Children. The Process Evaluation of the PrEP Pilot Project in Bhutan seeks to assess the implementation of the country’s first Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) program, introduced in 2024 under the SKPA-2 initiative led by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Save the Children Bhutan (SCB). The evaluation aims to generate evidence to strengthen future PrEP implementation and inform strategies for national scale-up and sustainability. |
| Objectives | The primary aim of this evaluation is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and potential for integration and scale-up of the PrEP pilot in Bhutan. Specifically, the study will: • Assess the extent to which the PrEP pilot was implemented as planned; • Examine the adequacy and quality of program inputs, activities, and outputs; • Evaluate the reach, coverage, and acceptability among target populations; • Identify barriers and facilitators to implementation; and • Generate recommendations for effective scale-up and integration into national HIV programs. |
| Study Methods | The evaluation will employ a convergent mixed-methods design, combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data will be collected through: • Document review of program and monitoring reports; • Key informant interviews (KIIs) with program managers, service providers, outreach workers, and clients; • Focus group discussions (FGDs) with technical working group members and community implementers; • Surveys among PrEP clients in pilot districts; and • Direct observations at service delivery sites. Data will be triangulated to ensure validity and reliability. The evaluation will cover four pilot dzongkhags—Thimphu, Paro, Phuentsholing, and Gelephu—and be completed over 25 days in November 2025. |
| Expected outcomes and use of results | The evaluation is expected to provide: • Evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of PrEP among key populations; • Insights into barriers and facilitators influencing PrEP uptake and service delivery; • Documentation of implementation fidelity and quality of program inputs; and • Practical recommendations for scaling up and integrating PrEP into Bhutan’s national HIV prevention framework. Findings will guide the MoH, NACP, and partners in refining operational strategies and ensuring that PrEP becomes an accessible, sustainable, and community-accepted HIV prevention intervention in Bhutan. |
| Keywords | HIV Key Population, Pre-exposure prophylaxis, Process evaluation |
Research Details
| Student research | No |
| Start Date | 23-Oct-2025 |
| End Date | 15-Dec-2025 |
| Key Implementing Institution | Save the Children |
| Multi-country research | No |
| Nationwide research | No |
| Bhutan, Bhutan, Bhutan, Bhutan | |
| Research Domain(s) | Communicable Disease Research |
| Research field(s) | HIV/AIDS |
| Involves human subjects | Yes |
| Population-Based Survey | |
| Data Collection | Primary and secondary data |
| Proposal reviewed by other Committee | Approved |