Youth-friendly services was the magic: Experiences of adolescent girls and young women in the community PrEP study, South Africa

Autor: Emily Krogstad Mudzingwa, Lindsey de Vos, Lauren Fynn, Millicent Atujuna, Ingrid T. Katz, Sybil Hosek, Connie Celum, Joseph Daniels, Linda-Gail Bekker, Andrew Medina-Marino
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Global Public Health, Vol 19, Iss 1 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 17441692
1744-1706
1744-1692
DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2024.2349918
Popis: ABSTRACTAdherence to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has been challenging for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). As part of The Community PrEP Study (CPS), AGYW were randomised to HIV-prevention empowerment counselling (intervention) or basic medication pick-up (control). In this qualitative sub-study, we interviewed AGYW participants (n = 39) to explore PrEP use and study experiences by study arm, and study staff (n = 7) to explore study implementation, site environment, and participant engagement. Data were thematically analysed using a constant comparison approach. Comparative matrices assessed similarities and differences in study experiences and PrEP support preferences. Friendly, non-judgmental, non-stigmatizing study staff were described as central to participant’s positive experiences. Participants highly valued CPS staff’s holistic health support (e.g. physical and psycho-social). Intervention participants described empowerment counselling as helpful in supporting PrEP disclosure. However, control participants also described disclosing PrEP use to trusted individuals. Participants and staff recommended public-sector PrEP services provide holistic, confidential, and integrated sexual and reproductive health services, and community sensitisation. An adolescent and youth-friendly environment was the primary factor motivating AGYW’s study engagement. While HIV-prevention empowerment counselling was well received, welcoming, respectful and non-judgmental staff may be the ‘secret sauce’ for implementing effective PrEP services to AGYW.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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