Open AccessA Longitudinal, Qualitative Exploration of Perceived HIV Risk, Healthcare Experiences, and Social Support as Facilitators and Barriers to PrEP Adoption Among Black Women
Author(s) -
Liesl A. Nydegger,
Julia DicksonGómez,
Thant Ko Ko
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/s10461-020-03015-9
Subject(s) - qualitative research , pre exposure prophylaxis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , health psychology , population , public health , medicine , health care , gerontology , psychology , family medicine , nursing , men who have sex with men , sociology , political science , environmental health , social science , syphilis , law
Black women contract HIV at much higher rates than White or Hispanic women. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an underutilized prevention tool among this population. We sought to determine participants' interest in PrEP and facilitators and barriers to PrEP adoption. This longitudinal, qualitative study included 30 Black women (M age = 32.2) interviewed 4 times over 6 months. Most participants had never heard of PrEP and a majority expressed initial interest. Barriers to PrEP initiation included low perceived HIV risk, medical mistrust, provider experiences and knowledge, negative reactions from family and friends, low perceived efficacy to adherence, and transportation. This study demonstrated actual, rather than hypothetical, PrEP interest and attitudes among Black women, and the barriers that arose over time during the study. PrEP awareness needs to be promoted among Black women and medical providers. Future research should address individual risk perception, medical mistrust, increasing social support, and decreasing transportation barriers.