Sexual and Reproductive HealthNCT07623538
Assessing the Feasibility of Hairdressers as Sexual Health Champions
An observational study of Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV, run by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust.
Trial summary
Clinicians working within sexual health services feel there is a theme of later diagnoses of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the lack of uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among women, particularly black African women in the United Kingdom (UK). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 90 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2026to 30 Jun 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 90 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Black African Women All women for survey
Who may be able to join
- Black African women including those living with HIV
- Women
Who cannot join
- Men
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Beyond the Clinic: Assessing the Feasibility of Hairdressers as Sexual Health CHAMPions in East of England. The CHAMP Study
Clinicians working within sexual health services feel there is a theme of later diagnoses of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the lack of uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among women, particularly black African women in the United Kingdom (UK). This is supported by evidence from the annual report on HIV in the East of England (1). In view of this investigators will explore the feasibility of hairdressers acting as sexual health champions in the region. This may include equipping hairdressers with knowledge about HIV prevention or just providing information about services available at local sexual health clinics to their clients. The project will also assess whether this would be acceptable to current clients, including those people living with HIV (PLWHIV).
Read the detailed description
Despite significant advances in HIV prevention and treatment, stigma, misinformation, and barriers to access continue to hinder progress-particularly among underserved and at-risk communities. Late diagnosis of HIV remains an important issue in the East of England. By ethnic group, black Africans were more likely to be diagnosed late than the white population and represented 48% of all newly diagnosed East of England residents in 20221. In terms of health inequalities in the Uk, PrEP need identification, prescribing and continuation among women remains relatively low (2,3). According to data from 2024 an average of 1% of all PrEP prescriptions done in the England were for cisgender woman4. This further highlight the huge disparity between PrEP need and use currently facing women.
The recently published UK HIV action plan which aims to have no new HIV transmissions by 2030 in the UK has focused on five key populations which includes Black heterosexual women(5). It has also highlighted the need for improving regular testing among these key populations and using innovating ways to improve PrEP access for all who need it(5).
The British HIV Association (BHIVA)/ British Association of Sexual Health and HIV(BASHH) PrEP guidelines 2025 also discuss improving access and equitability to ensure all people in need of PrEP have access to this.(5,6)
This project aims to address some of the above by assessing feasibility of having hairdressers as sexual health champions by providing information on services provided by local sexual health clinics and possibly training them to discuss HIV testing and PrEP with their clients in a mostly homebased non-clinical setting. Many individuals may not routinely engage with formal healthcare services due to fear of judgment, lack of awareness, or cultural and socioeconomic factors. Hairdressers often serve as informal confidants and trusted members of their communities, engaging in open, personal conversations with clients in a safe space. This presents a unique and underutilized opportunity to deliver health promotion in a stigma-free environment. However, limited research exists on applying this approach to sexual health in resource rich settings (7,8). This project responds to that gap, exploring whether equipping hairdressers to serve as sexual health advocates can increase awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to local services. It aims to test both the acceptability and practicality of this approach, laying the groundwork for a scalable community health intervention that reaches people where they are and empowers both professionals and clients to take charge of their sexual health with the help of our outreach community.
- Conditions
- Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV
- Medical subject headings
- Coitus
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaires +/- Interview | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Questionnaire and interviews
Proportion of participating hairdressers reporting feasibility of using hairdressers as sexual health champions from completed questionnaires and interviews.
Proportion of participants (clients and women living with HIV ) reporting acceptability based on questionnaire and interview responses.
Measured: 9 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Questionnaire
Proportion of surveyed women reporting acceptability based on survey responses.
Measured: 9 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Jun 2026
- Study start1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Sexual and Reproductive HealthStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Farai Nyatsanza, East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust
- Investigators
- Farai Nyatsanza, MBChB, Principal investigator, East of England Community Health and Care Trust
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07623538
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EastEnglandCHC
- Other IDs
- IRAS 371619
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 20 May 2026
- Last updated
- 3 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-east-of-england-annual-data-spotlight/annual-epidemiological-spotlight-on-hiv-in-the-east-of-england-2022-data 2. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables/hiv-testing-prep-new-hiv-diagnoses-and-care-outcomes-for-people-accessing-hiv-services- 3. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) need and use in England data tables. Published 3 October 2023. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6512df31f6746b0012a4ba5d/2022-PrEP-need-and-use-by-demographic-group.ods 4. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/prep_in_the_uk_report_150928.pdf 5. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/towards-zero-the-hiv-action-plan-for-england-2022-to-2025 6. https://bhiva.org/clinical-guideline/PrEP-guidelines/ 7. Chiaborelli M, Kopeka M, Sekhesa P, Sehrt M, Mohloanyane T, Ballouz T, Menges D, Brown JA, Belus JM, Gerber F, Raeber F. Hair salons as a promising space to provide HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for young women in Lesotho: a citizen scientist mixed-methods study. BMC Public Health. 2025 Jul 2;25(1):2202. 8. Lewis YR, Shain L, Quinn SC, Turner K, Moore T. Building community trust: Lessons from an STD/HIV peer educator program with African American barbers and beauticians. Health Promotion Practice. 2002 Apr;3(2):133-43.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Beyond the Clinic: Assessing the Feasibility of Hairdressers as Sexual Health CHAMPions in East of England. The CHAMP Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07623538
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EastEnglandCHC
- Conditions
- Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- East of England Community Health and Care NHS TrustUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 3 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Clinicians working within sexual health services feel there is a theme of later diagnoses of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the lack of uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among women, particularly black African women in the United Kingdom (UK). This is supported by evidence from the annual report on HIV in the East of England (1). In view of this investigators will explore the feasibility of hairdressers acting as sexual health champions in the region. This may include equipping hairdressers with knowledge about HIV prevention or just providing information about services available at local sexual health clinics to their clients. The project will also assess whether this would be acceptable to current clients, including those people living with HIV (PLWHIV).
Detailed description
Despite significant advances in HIV prevention and treatment, stigma, misinformation, and barriers to access continue to hinder progress-particularly among underserved and at-risk communities. Late diagnosis of HIV remains an important issue in the East of England. By ethnic group, black Africans were more likely to be diagnosed late than the white population and represented 48% of all newly diagnosed East of England residents in 20221. In terms of health inequalities in the Uk, PrEP need identification, prescribing and continuation among women remains relatively low (2,3). According to data from 2024 an average of 1% of all PrEP prescriptions done in the England were for cisgender woman4. This further highlight the huge disparity between PrEP need and use currently facing women.
The recently published UK HIV action plan which aims to have no new HIV transmissions by 2030 in the UK has focused on five key populations which includes Black heterosexual women(5). It has also highlighted the need for improving regular testing among these key populations and using innovating ways to improve PrEP access for all who need it(5).
The British HIV Association (BHIVA)/ British Association of Sexual Health and HIV(BASHH) PrEP guidelines 2025 also discuss improving access and equitability to ensure all people in need of PrEP have access to this.(5,6)
This project aims to address some of the above by assessing feasibility of having hairdressers as sexual health champions by providing information on services provided by local sexual health clinics and possibly training them to discuss HIV testing and PrEP with their clients in a mostly homebased non-clinical setting. Many individuals may not routinely engage with formal healthcare services due to fear of judgment, lack of awareness, or cultural and socioeconomic factors. Hairdressers often serve as informal confidants and trusted members of their communities, engaging in open, personal conversations with clients in a safe space. This presents a unique and underutilized opportunity to deliver health promotion in a stigma-free environment. However, limited research exists on applying this approach to sexual health in resource rich settings (7,8). This project responds to that gap, exploring whether equipping hairdressers to serve as sexual health advocates can increase awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to local services. It aims to test both the acceptability and practicality of this approach, laying the groundwork for a scalable community health intervention that reaches people where they are and empowers both professionals and clients to take charge of their sexual health with the help of our outreach community.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaires +/- Interview | – | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 90 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Black African Women All women for survey
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Black African women including those living with HIV
- Women
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Men
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Questionnaire and interviews
Time frame: 9 months
Proportion of participating hairdressers reporting feasibility of using hairdressers as sexual health champions from completed questionnaires and interviews. Proportion of participants (clients and women living with HIV ) reporting acceptability based on questionnaire and interview responses.
1 secondary outcome
Questionnaire
Time frame: 9 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Jun 2026.
- Results publication1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-east-of-england-annual-data-spotlight/annual-epidemiological-spotlight-on-hiv-in-the-east-of-england-2022-data 2. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables/hiv-testing-prep-new-hiv-diagnoses-and-care-outcomes-for-people-accessing-hiv-services- 3. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) need and use in England data tables. Published 3 October 2023. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6512df31f6746b0012a4ba5d/2022-PrEP-need-and-use-by-demographic-group.ods 4. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/prep_in_the_uk_report_150928.pdf 5. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/towards-zero-the-hiv-action-plan-for-england-2022-to-2025 6. https://bhiva.org/clinical-guideline/PrEP-guidelines/ 7. Chiaborelli M, Kopeka M, Sekhesa P, Sehrt M, Mohloanyane T, Ballouz T, Menges D, Brown JA, Belus JM, Gerber F, Raeber F. Hair salons as a promising space to provide HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for young women in Lesotho: a citizen scientist mixed-methods study. BMC Public Health. 2025 Jul 2;25(1):2202. 8. Lewis YR, Shain L, Quinn SC, Turner K, Moore T. Building community trust: Lessons from an STD/HIV peer educator program with African American barbers and beauticians. Health Promotion Practice. 2002 Apr;3(2):133-43.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Farai Nyatsanza, MBChB principal investigator
East of England Community Health and Care Trust
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV, run by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Farai Nyatsanza, MBChB (0044300 300 30 30, eec.gen-cambs-researchhub@nhs.net), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Questionnaire and interviews (time frame: 9 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07623538, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Jun 2026.