Cover Image

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

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 (c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Emily Krogstad Mudzingwa (Author), Lindsey de Vos (Author), Lauren Fynn (Author), Millicent Atujuna (Author), Ingrid T. Katz (Author), Sybil Hosek (Author), Connie Celum (Author), Joseph Daniels (Author), Linda-Gail Bekker (Author), Andrew Medina-Marino (Author)
Format: Book
Published: Taylor & Francis Group, 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z.
Subjects:
article
Online Access:Connect to this object online.
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary: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.
Item Description:10.1080/17441692.2024.2349918
1744-1706
1744-1692

Similar Items