Open AccessA Pilot Study to Evaluate a Novel Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Peer Outreach and Navigation Intervention for Women at High Risk for HIV Infection
Author(s) -
Oni J. Blackstock,
Joey Platt,
Sarit A. Golub,
Amarachi R. Anakaraonye,
Brianna L. Norton,
Suzan M. Walters,
Jae Sevelius,
Chinazo O. Cunningham
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aids and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.994
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1573-3254
pISSN - 1090-7165
DOI - 10.1007/s10461-020-02979-y
Subject(s) - health psychology , pre exposure prophylaxis , outreach , medicine , intervention (counseling) , transgender women , family medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , men who have sex with men , syringe , pilot program , transgender , drop out , public health , nursing , psychology , psychiatry , syphilis , medical education , political science , psychoanalysis , law , economics , demographic economics
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake remains woefully low among U.S. women at high risk for HIV acquisition. We evaluated a pilot intervention which involved Peers providing brief PrEP education and counseling at mobile syringe exchange sites and at sex worker and syringe exchange drop-in centers followed by navigation to PrEP care. Peers recruited English-proficient, self-identified women (i.e., cisgender and transgender women and persons with other transfeminine identities) over a 3-month period and delivered the intervention to 52 HIV-negative/status unknown participants. Thirty-eight participants (73.1%) reported PrEP interest, 27 (51.9%) accepted the offer of a PrEP appointment, 13 (25.0%) scheduled a PrEP appointment, 3 (5.8%) attended an initial PrEP appointment, and none were prescribed PrEP. We found a gap between PrEP interest and connecting women to PrEP care. Further study is needed to understand this gap, including exploring innovative approaches to delivering PrEP care to women at highest risk for HIV.