Abstract
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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1411-1422 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | AIDS and Behavior |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2021 |
Keywords
- HIV
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis
- Sex work
- Syringe exchange programs
- Women
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases