scholarly journals Dynamic Perceived HIV Risk and Sexual Behaviors Among Young Women Enrolled in a PrEP Trial in Kenya: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Ngure ◽  
Nicholas Thuo ◽  
Vallery Ogello ◽  
Catherine Kiptinness ◽  
Kevin Kamolloh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Risk Of Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Over Time

Background: In Kenya and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, young women are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic compared to young men. The extent to which young women's self-perceptions about risk of HIV acquisition influence their sexual behaviors and use of HIV prevention methods remains unclear. We therefore conducted a qualitative study to explore these issues among young women enrolled in a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) trial.Methods: From January 2017 to January 2020, we conducted serial semi-structured in-depth interviews 50 purposively selected young women (18–24 years old) who were participating in the MPYA (Monitoring PrEP for Young Adult women) study—a randomized controlled trial in Thika and Kisumu, Kenya, assessing the impact of SMS reminders on PrEP adherence. Interviews were conducted at three time points (~1 week, 3, and 12 months after initiating PrEP). We used an inductive, content analytic approach to identify key themes related to risk perceptions, sexual behavior, and use of HIV prevention tools.Results: Around the time of enrollment, most of the 50 women interviewed reported being at high risk of HIV because of their own sexual behaviors, such as inconsistent condom use, multiple sexual partners, and transactional sex. Additionally, high risk perception was based on the behavior of their partners, such as refusing to use condoms and being unsure of their partner's HIV status. Young women's perceived risk of HIV acquisition was a key motivator for PrEP initiation and continuation. During PrEP use, participants reported feeling protected and at less risk compared to peers who were not taking PrEP. Some reported no longer using condoms because they were confident that PrEP provided enough protection. Over time, many young women reported reducing risky sexual behaviors because of the regular counseling and HIV testing they received as part of their PrEP services. This lowered risk perception was in most cases accompanied by discontinuation of PrEP.Conclusions: HIV risk perception among young women in Kenya was dynamic and influenced their use of PrEP and condoms over time, suggesting an often-deliberate approach to HIV prevention and sexual health.

scholarly journals Measuring HIV Risk Perception and Behavior: Results from Round 1 of the Cognitive Interviewing Project with young women and men who have sex with men in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 2307-2318
Author(s):  
Jessica Milne ◽  
Hannah Brady ◽  
Thembekile Shato ◽  
Danielle Bohn ◽  
Makhosazana Mdladla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Cognitive Interviewing ◽  
Hiv Risk Perception ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
And Behavior

scholarly journals Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of integrating screening for gender-based violence into HIV counselling and testing for adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania and South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Colombini ◽  
◽  
Fiona Scorgie ◽  
Anne Stangl ◽  
Sheila Harvey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Clinical Staff ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Process Data ◽  
Hiv Counselling And Testing ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract Background Gender-based violence (GBV) undermines HIV prevention and treatment cascades, particularly among women who report partner violence. Screening for violence during HIV testing, and prior to offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to HIV uninfected women, provides an opportunity to identify those at heightened HIV risk and greater potential for non-adherence or early discontinuation of PrEP. The paper describes our experience with offering integrated GBV screening and referral as part of HIV counselling and testing. This component was implemented within EMPOWER, a demonstration project offering combination HIV prevention, including daily oral PrEP, to young women in South Africa and Tanzania. Methods Between February 2017 and March 2018, a process evaluation was conducted to explore views, experiences and practices of stakeholders (study participants and study clinical staff) during implementation of the GBV screening component. This article assesses the feasibility and acceptability of the approach from multiple stakeholder perspectives, drawing on counselling session observations (n = 10), in-depth interviews with participants aged 16–24 (n = 39) and clinical staff (n = 13), and notes from debriefings with counsellors. Study process data were also collected (e.g. number of women screened and referred). Following a thematic inductive approach, qualitative data were analysed using qualitative software (NVivo 11). Results Findings show that 31% of young women screened positive for GBV and only 10% requested referrals. Overall, study participants accessing PrEP were amenable to being asked about violence during HIV risk assessment, as this offered the opportunity to find emotional relief and seek help, although a few found this traumatic. In both sites, the sensitive and empathetic approach of the staff helped mitigate distress of GBV disclosure. In general, the delivery of GBV screening in HCT proved to be feasible, provided that the basic principles of confidentiality, staff empathy, and absence of judgment were observed. However, uptake of linkage to further care remained low in both sites. Conclusion Most stakeholders found GBV screening acceptable and feasible. Key principles that should be in place for young women to be asked safely about GBV during HIV counselling and testing included respect for confidentiality, a youth-friendly and non-judgmental environment, and a functioning referral network.

A role for traditional doctors in health promotion: experience from a trial of HIV prevention in Botswana

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Cockcroft ◽  
Leagajang Kgakole ◽  
Nobantu Marokoane ◽  
Neil Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Discussion Groups ◽  
Gender Violence ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Intervention Programme ◽  
Structural Intervention ◽  
One Year

Traditional doctors have been largely ignored in HIV prevention, particularly primary prevention. As part of a structural intervention programme to reduce HIV risk among young women in Botswana, we trained 147 traditional doctors in four districts as well as government health education assistants (HEAs) and teachers to run discussion groups in the community and schools, using an evidence-based eight-episode audio-drama, covering gender roles, gender violence, and how these are related to HIV risk. One year later, we contacted 43 of the 87 trained traditional doctors in two districts. Most (32) were running discussion groups with men and women, with links to the local HEAs and teachers. They were adept at recruiting men to their groups, often a challenge with community interventions, and reported positive changes in attitudes and behaviour of group participants. Traditional doctors can play an important role in primary prevention of gender violence and HIV.

Defining the PrEP care continuum among recently incarcerated men at high risk for HIV infection (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Murphy ◽  
Colette Sosnowy ◽  
Brooke Rogers ◽  
Siena Napoleon ◽  
Drew Galipeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Care Continuum ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Biomedical Intervention ◽  
Prep Implementation ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Risk Of Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

BACKGROUND HIV disproportionately impacts criminal justice (CJ)-involved individuals, including men who experience incarceration. Men make up the vast majority of those experiencing incarceration as well as those newly diagnosed with HIV infection. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical intervention that significantly reduces the risk of HIV acquisition. However, implementation in CJ-systems is limited. Little is known about effective PrEP implementation and use in this unique public health context. OBJECTIVE This article describes a PrEP care continuum for men experiencing incarceration who are at increased risk of HIV acquisition, which can help conceptualize approaches to evaluating PrEP implementation. METHODS Men incarcerated in the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, a correctional system composed of all of the state's sentenced and awaiting trial population, are screened for HIV acquisition risk during the course of routine clinical care. Those identified at high risk for HIV acquisition are referred for evaluation for PrEP initiation and enrollment in this study. Individuals who express interest in initiating PrEP and consent to the study are then followed in a prospective longitudinal cohort. RESULTS The outlined study will enroll 100 men experiencing incarceration at high risk for HIV acquisition prior to release into the community. The goal is to initiate PrEP prior to incarceration and link individuals to PrEP providers in the community, capturing barriers and facilitators to PrEP use during this uniquely vulnerable time period for HIV acquisition. CONCLUSIONS Based on the proposed care continuum and what is known about HIV risk and prevention efforts in the CJ-context, we outline key future research efforts to better understand effective approaches to preventing HIV infection among this vulnerable population. The described approach presents a powerful public health opportunity to help end the HIV epidemic.

scholarly journals “The Drug Will Help Protect My Tomorrow”: Perceptions of Integrating PrEP into HIV Prevention Behaviors Among Female Sex Workers in Lilongwe, Malawi

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 421-432
Author(s):  
Jaclyn Shea ◽  
Agatha Bula ◽  
Wezzie Dunda ◽  
Mina C. Hosseinipour ◽  
Carol E. Golin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Hiv Prevention Strategies ◽  
Hiv Acquisition

Female sex workers (FSW) are disproportionately at risk for HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention method, yet approaches for incorporating PrEP within prevention strategies used by FSW are lacking. Semistructured focus group discussions were conducted with 44 HIV-negative FSW in Lilongwe, Malawi to explore perceptions of PrEP: acceptability, integration within HIV prevention behaviors, and barriers to use. Acceptability of PrEP was high. Motivation to use PrEP was rooted in love for one's life, anticipated negative economic effects associated with HIV acquisition. PrEP was viewed as complementary to existing norms for engaging in healthy sexual behaviors. Many felt PrEP may provide extra protection from HIV, along with condoms and frequent STI testing. Unpredictable daily lives, stigma, and side effects were barriers that could affect PrEP use. Leveraging existing HIV prevention strategies and social norms surrounding HIV prevention behaviors may positively impact PrEP uptake among FSW in Malawi and sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Effect of syphilis infection on HIV acquisition: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. sextrans-2020-054706
Author(s):  
Meng Yin Wu ◽  
Hui Zi Gong ◽  
Kui Ru Hu ◽  
He-yi Zheng ◽  
Xia Wan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Syphilis Infection ◽  
High Risk Populations ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Risk Of Hiv Acquisition

ObjectivesCo-infection of syphilis and HIV remains hard to manage and its morbidity shows a rising tendency. Syphilis has been associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition in high-risk groups, especially in men who have sex with men (MSM). This systematic review and meta-analysis estimates the effect of syphilis infection on subsequent HIV acquisition, and assesses its difference between MSM and other high-risk populations.MethodsFive electronic databases were searched for literature published to 21 September 2019 without language restrictions. Longitudinal studies that enrolled key populations to compare the incidence of HIV with and without syphilis exposure were included. We used a random-effects model to estimate the effect of syphilis infection on HIV acquisition among high-risk populations, which include MSM, sex workers, serodiscordant couples, people who inject drugs and attendees of STD clinics.ResultsA total of 17 cohorts and 5 case-control studies involving 65 232 participants were included. HIV incidence showed a two-time increase after syphilis exposure, compared with a control group (relative risk (RR) 2.67 (95% CI 2.05 to 3.47); p<0.05 for prevalence; RR 3.21 (95% CI 2.26 to 4.57); p=0.419 for incidence). No significant differences were observed between MSM and other high-risk groups in syphilis infection prevalence (RR 2.60 (95% CI 1.78 to 3.80); p<0.05 vs RR, 2.98 (95% CI 2.15 to 4.14); p<0.05; ratio of relative risk 0.76 (95% CI 0.49 to 1.17)).ConclusionsSyphilis infection increases the risk of HIV acquisition in high-risk populations. There is no evidence to suggest MSM are at greater risk than other high-risk populations. Prompt diagnosis, timely treatment, preventive interventions against syphilis infection would be a worthwhile investment for reducing HIV incidence. Strategies to combat stigma and discrimination targeted at MSM are pragmatically needed.

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