scholarly journals PrEP as a Lifestyle and Investment for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 232595821983101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Haberer ◽  
Nelly Mugo ◽  
Jared M. Baeten ◽  
Maria Pyra ◽  
Elizabeth Bukusi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Lifestyle Choice ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Many ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Risk Of Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are highly affected by the HIV epidemic, yet standard approaches to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery will not meet their needs. This commentary highlights key characteristics of AGYW related to PrEP use and delivery, including typical neurocognitive development, lack of experience with sustained medication use, and the social and connected nature of AGYW’s lives. We then suggest ways for programs to embrace these characteristics, such as presenting PrEP as a lifestyle choice and not a biomedical tool, making access to PrEP simple and easy, and recognizing the many influences AGYW face in taking PrEP. We also suggest ways for programs to identify AGYW at the highest risk of HIV acquisition. Adolescent girls and young women have an important role to play in ending the HIV epidemic and they deserve considerable, tailored investment.

scholarly journals Maternal PrEP use in HIV-uninfected pregnant women in South Africa: Role of Stigma in PrEP initiation, retention and adherence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Moran ◽  
Nyiko Mashele ◽  
Rufaro Mvududu ◽  
Pamina Gorbach ◽  
Linda-Gail Bekker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Antenatal Visit ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Anticipated Stigma ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Risk Of Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractPregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa are at high risk of HIV acquisition and require effective methods to prevent HIV. In a cohort of pregnant women offered pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), we evaluate the relationship between internalized and anticipated stigma and PrEP initiation at first antenatal visit, 3-month continuation and adherence using multivariable logistic regression. High internalized and anticipated PrEP stigma are associated with lower PrEP initiation at first antenatal visit (aOR internalized stigma=0.06; 95%CI=0.03-0.12 & aOR anticipated stigma=0.53; 95%CI=0.29-0.97) compared to women with low reported stigma, after controlling for covariates. Women whose partners have not been tested for HIV or whose serostatus remains unknown have 1.6-times odds of PrEP retention at 3-months compared to women whose partners have been tested (aOR=1.60; 95%CI=1.02-2.52) after adjusting for covariates. PrEP counseling and maternal PrEP interventions must consider individual- and relational-level interventions to overcome anticipated PrEP stigma and other barriers to PrEP initiation and adherence.

scholarly journals Understanding and measuring uptake and coverage of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis delivery among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan S. Dunbar ◽  
Katharine Kripke ◽  
Jessica Haberer ◽  
Delivette Castor ◽  
Shona Dalal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Substantial Risk ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Oral Prep

In response to World Health Organization (WHO) guidance recommending oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for all individuals at substantial risk for HIV infection, significant investments are being made to expand access to oral PrEP globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Some have interpreted early monitoring reports from new programs delivering oral PrEP to adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) as suggestive of low uptake. However, a lack of common definitions complicates interpretation of oral PrEP uptake and coverage measures, because various indicators with different meanings and uses are used interchangeably. Furthermore, operationalising these measures in real-world settings is challenged by the difficulties in defining the denominator for measuring uptake and coverage among AGYW, due to the lack of data and experience required to identify the subset of AGYW at substantial risk of HIV infection. This paper proposes an intervention-centric cascade as a framework for developing a common lexicon of metrics for uptake and coverage of oral PrEP among AGYW. In codifying these indicators, approaches to clearly define metrics for uptake and coverage are outlined, and the discussion on ‘low’ uptake is reframed to focus on achieving the highest possible proportion of AGYW using oral PrEP when they need and want it Recommendations are also provided for making increased investments in implementation research to better quantify the sub-group of AGYW in potential need of oral PrEP.and for improving monitoring systems to more efficiently address bottlenecks in the service delivery of oral PrEP to AGYW so that implementation can be taken to scale.

scholarly journals Wealth-related inequalities in demand for family planning satisfied among married and unmarried adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin K. Mutua ◽  
Yohannes D. Wado ◽  
Monica Malata ◽  
Caroline W. Kabiru ◽  
Elsie Akwara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background The use of modern contraception has increased in much of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the extent to which changes have occurred across the wealth spectrum among adolescents is not well known. We examine poor-rich gaps in demand for family planning satisfied by modern methods (DFPSm) among sexually active adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) using data from national household surveys. Methods We used recent Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys to describe levels of wealth-related inequalities in DFPSm among sexually active AGYW using an asset index as an indicator of wealth. Further, we used data from countries with more than one survey conducted from 2000 to assess DFPSm trends. We fitted linear models to estimate annual average rate of change (AARC) by country. We fitted random effects regression models to estimate regional AARC in DFPSm. All analysis were stratified by marital status. Results Overall, there was significant wealth-related disparities in DFPSm in West Africa only (17.8 percentage points (pp)) among married AGYW. The disparities were significant in 5 out of 10 countries in Eastern, 2 out of 6 in Central, and 7 out of 12 in West among married AGYW and in 2 out of 6 in Central and 2 out of 9 in West Africa among unmarried AGYW. Overall, DFPSm among married AGYW increased over time in both poorest (AARC = 1.6%, p < 0.001) and richest (AARC = 1.4%, p < 0.001) households and among unmarried AGYW from poorest households (AARC = 0.8%, p = 0.045). DPFSm increased over time among married and unmarried AGYW from poorest households in Eastern (AARC = 2.4%, p < 0.001) and Southern sub-regions (AARC = 2.1%, p = 0.030) respectively. Rwanda and Liberia had the largest increases in DPFSm among married AGYW from poorest (AARC = 5.2%, p < 0.001) and richest (AARC = 5.3%, p < 0.001) households respectively. There were decreasing DFPSm trends among both married (AARC = − 1.7%, p < 0.001) and unmarried (AARC = − 4.7%, p < 0.001) AGYW from poorest households in Mozambique. Conclusion Despite rapid improvements in DFPSm among married AGYW from the poorest households in many SSA countries there have been only modest reductions in wealth-related inequalities. Significant inequalities remain, especially among married AGYW. DFPSm stalled in most sub-regions among unmarried AGYW.

scholarly journals Challenges and potential barriers to the uptake of antiretroviral-based prevention in Asia and the Pacific region

Sexual Health ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Ru Lo ◽  
Masaya Kato ◽  
Nittaya Phanuphak ◽  
Masami Fujita ◽  
Duong Bui Duc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Treatment As Prevention ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Prep Implementation ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Operational Issues ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Firm Evidence

Evidence has emerged over the past few years on the effectiveness of antiretroviral-based prevention technologies to prevent (i) HIV transmission while decreasing morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected persons, and (ii) HIV acquisition in HIV-uninfected individuals through pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Only few of the planned studies on treatment as prevention (TasP) are conducted in Asia. TasP might be more feasible and effective in concentrated rather than in generalised epidemics, as resources for HIV testing and antiretroviral treatment could focus on confined and much smaller populations than in the generalised epidemics observed in sub-Saharan Africa. Several countries such as Cambodia, China, Thailand and Vietnam, are now paving the way to success. Similar challenges arise for both TasP and PrEP. However, the operational issues for PrEP are amplified by the need for frequent retesting and ensuring adherence. This paper describes challenges for the implementation of antiretroviral-based prevention and makes the case that TasP and PrEP implementation research in Asia is much needed to provide insights into the feasibility of these interventions in populations where firm evidence of ‘real world’ effectiveness is still lacking.

Oral and injectable contraception use and risk of HIV acquisition among women in sub-Saharan Africa

AIDS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1001-1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra I. McCoy ◽  
Wenjing Zheng ◽  
Elizabeth T. Montgomery ◽  
Kelly Blanchard ◽  
Ariane van der Straten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Contraception Use ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Risk Of Hiv Acquisition

scholarly journals “I wish to remain HIV negative”: Pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence and persistence in transgender women and men who have sex with men in coastal Kenya

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0244226
Author(s):  
Makobu Kimani ◽  
Elise M. van der Elst ◽  
Oscar Chirro ◽  
Elizabeth Wahome ◽  
Fauz Ibrahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Background Transgender women (TGW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa have high HIV acquisition risks and can benefit from daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We assessed PrEP adherence by measuring tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) levels and explore motives for PrEP persistence in TGW and MSM. Methods Participants were enrolled in a one-year PrEP programme and made quarterly visits irrespective of whether they were still using PrEP. At their month 6 visit, participants provided a dried blood spot to test for TFV-DP levels; protective levels were defined as those compatible with ≥4 pills per week (700–1249 fmol/punch). Before TFV-DP levels were available, a sub-set of these participants were invited for an in-depth interview (IDI). Semi-structured IDI topic guides were used to explore motives to uptake, adhere to, and discontinue PrEP. IDI data were analyzed thematically. Results Fifty-three participants (42 MSM and 11 TGW) were enrolled. At month 6, 11 (20.7%) participants (8 MSM and 3 TGW) were lost to follow up or stopped taking PrEP. Any TFV-DP was detected in 62.5% (5/8) of TGW vs. 14.7% of MSM (5/34, p = 0.01). Protective levels were detected in 37.5% of TGW (3/8), but not in any MSM. Nineteen IDI were conducted with 7 TGW and 9 MSM on PrEP, and 1 TGW and 2 MSM off PrEP. Unplanned or frequent risky sexual risk behaviour were the main motives for PrEP uptake. Among participants on PrEP, TGW had a more complete understanding of the benefits of PrEP. Inconsistent PrEP use was attributed to situational factors. Motives to discontinue PrEP included negative reactions from partners and stigmatizing healthcare services. Conclusion While MSM evinced greater adherence challenges in this PrEP programme, almost 40% of TGW were protected by PrEP. Given high HIV incidences in TGW these findings hold promise for TGW PrEP programming in the region.

scholarly journals Hearing from men in Eswatini: Shifts in HIV risk and service uptake—Findings from DREAMS implementation science research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Implementation Science ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Engaging Men ◽  
Sub Saharan

HIV prevention efforts across sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly focused on engaging men, for their own health and that of their partners and families. We examined whether and how HIV risk and protective factors are changing among men in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)—a country with a substantial HIV burden. The study is part of the Population Council’s implementation science research portfolio on the DREAMS Partnership1, a large-scale initiative to reduce new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and their partners.

High uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) during early roll-out in Belgium: results from surveillance reports

Sexual Health ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bea Vuylsteke ◽  
Thijs Reyniers ◽  
Catherine Lucet ◽  
Christiana Nöstlinger ◽  
Jessika Deblonde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disability Insurance ◽  
Aggregated Data ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Event Driven ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Risk Of Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Roll Out

Background Since 1 June 2017, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could be prescribed and reimbursed in Belgium as prophylactic medication for people who are at increased risk of HIV acquisition. The aim of this study was to determine the uptake of daily and event-driven PrEP in Belgium during the first 9 months of roll-out. Methods: Routine aggregated data on the number of reimbursement requests and the number of boxes of Truvada (Gilead Sciences, Cambridge, UK) delivered for PrEP through the Belgian pharmacies were obtained from the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance. We also collected aggregated data from seven Aids Reference Centres (ARCs) currently providing most of the PrEP care in Belgium. Results: From 1 June 2017 to 28 February 2018, 1352 requests for reimbursement were approved by the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance. Almost 98% of those who bought at least one box of 30 tablets of emtricitabine 200mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300mg (FTC/TDF) in a Belgian pharmacy were male, and most (67%) were between 30 and 50 years of age. According to data obtained from ARCs, the proportion of those choosing event-driven PrEP initially ranged between 29% and 73%. Conclusions: The uptake of PrEP in Belgium since the start of the roll-out in June 2017 has been high, and almost entirely limited to men who have sex with men, of whom 43% initially prefer a non-daily regimen. A better understanding is needed as to why other populations, such as sub-Saharan African migrants, are not accessing PrEP, as well as the development of a more sustainable PrEP delivery model.

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