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. 2025 Jan 6:10.1007/s40615-024-02263-y.
doi: 10.1007/s40615-024-02263-y. Online ahead of print.

Assessing Non-Oral PrEP Alternatives Among Young Black Women in the Southern USA

Damian J Denson  1 , Casey Langer Tesfaye  2 , Daniela Glusberg  2 , Alisú Schoua-Glusberg  2 , Valerie Betley  3 , Bryan Gale  3 , Jessica Cardo  2 , Paula M Frew  4   5 , Eleanor McLellan-Lemal  6 , Siobhán M O'Connor  6 , Janet M McNicholl  6
Affiliations

Assessing Non-Oral PrEP Alternatives Among Young Black Women in the Southern USA

Damian J Denson et al. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. .

Abstract

Young Black women in the southern US face a high HIV burden. While daily oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can effectively prevent HIV, its use is low among Black women. The acceptability of and perceived intention to use emerging PrEP products among young Black women in the southern US are not well understood. Non-oral PrEP alternatives could address challenges to PrEP uptake and reduce health disparities. We conducted virtual semi-structured interviews with Black women aged 18-34 in Atlanta, GA; Baton Rouge, LA; and Jackson, MS, to explore their perspectives on three emerging PrEP products: a long-acting injection, a subdermal implant, and a dual-purpose contraception and HIV prevention intravaginal ring. Seventy-five interviews were conducted from January to October 2021 and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis with NVivo software. Most participants were open to using medication to prevent HIV. The intravaginal ring was the most preferred, primarily due to its dual-purpose function, although it was also frequently rejected. The long-acting injection was the second most preferred and least rejected, perceived as the least invasive. The skin implant was the least preferred and most rejected, viewed as the most invasive. Our findings highlight the need for multiple PrEP options to meet individual preferences. Detailed descriptions, instructions, and experiential learning methods are crucial for choosing non-oral PrEP modalities. Practitioners should address questions and offer peer-based learning opportunities. Designing and promoting PrEP strategies for young Black women should involve close consultation with these consumers.

Keywords: Black women; HIV Prevention; Health disparities; PrEP; Qualitative.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: This study received approval from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) IRB and Office of Management and Budget (OMB No:0920–1091). A waiver of documentation of informed consent was used to decrease participant burden and to ease processes for conducting virtual semi-structured interviews. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preferred and rejected choices of emerging PrEP products by young black women in the Southern US (n = 75)*.*Questions were asked as part of a semi-structured qualitative interview. Women who mentioned more than one product and/or did not choose a product were excluded
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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