Open AccessTu'Washindi na PrEP: Working With Young Women and Service Providers to Design an Intervention for PrEP Uptake and Adherence in the Context of Gender-Based Violence
Author(s) -
Miriam Hartmann,
Sophie Otticha,
Kawango Agot,
Alexandra Minnis,
Elizabeth T. Montgomery,
Sarah Roberts
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aids education and prevention
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.309
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1943-2755
pISSN - 0899-9546
DOI - 10.1521/aeap.2021.33.2.103
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , intervention (counseling) , psychology , domestic violence , pre exposure prophylaxis , service provider , medicine , nursing , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , family medicine , service (business) , poison control , suicide prevention , men who have sex with men , environmental health , paleontology , biology , economy , syphilis , economics
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces HIV acquisition among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Existing evidence suggests that uptake and adherence are low among AGYW and that relationship factors such as gender-based violence (GBV) are important barriers. Through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) process, a youth advisory board (YAB), service providers (SP), and a study team developed the Tu'Washindi na PrEP intervention to support AGYW PrEP use in the context of GBV. The YAB also guided the formative research and interpretation of results. The authors pretested the intervention with SP, AGYW and their partners, and community change agents, and then developed guides for AGYW support clubs, community-based male sensitization sessions, and couples-based events that included formulation of story lines for dramatized PrEP negotiation and information dissemination skills. Stakeholder engagement led to an intervention responsive to AGYW's needs for PrEP support in the context of their relationships, which was evaluated through a 6-month pilot community randomized controlled trial.