Disclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention among women enrolled in a contraceptive study: qualitative findings from Durban, South Africa
BackgroundDisclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use for HIV prevention may improve adherence to PrEP; however, disclosure can be challenging and may result in stigma. Here, we describe disclosure of PrEP use among young women enrolled in a contraceptive study.MethodsIn this qualitative...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1505643/full |
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| author | Ivana Beesham Mags Beksinska Cecilia Milford Cecilia Milford Leila E. Mansoor |
| author_facet | Ivana Beesham Mags Beksinska Cecilia Milford Cecilia Milford Leila E. Mansoor |
| author_sort | Ivana Beesham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundDisclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use for HIV prevention may improve adherence to PrEP; however, disclosure can be challenging and may result in stigma. Here, we describe disclosure of PrEP use among young women enrolled in a contraceptive study.MethodsIn this qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 13 women aged 18–25 years who initiated oral PrEP for HIV prevention during the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) Trial. Interviews were conducted in 2021 with women from Durban, South Africa. In this analysis, we explore women's experiences of PrEP disclosure including whether they disclosed PrEP use, who they disclosed to and the reaction to disclosure, and the impact of disclosure on PrEP use. Interviews were conducted in English, audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsAll women disclosed oral PrEP use to at least one individual, with some women disclosing to multiple individuals including family, friends, partners and community members. Few women did not disclose oral PrEP use to their partner due to anticipating a negative reaction from the partner, feeling that the partner would assume the woman has HIV and is taking antiretroviral therapy and fear that the partner would associate PrEP use with the woman having other partners. Reactions to oral PrEP disclosure were generally supportive or neutral, however, few women reported negative reactions that included distrust in the efficacy of PrEP to prevent HIV, discouraging the woman from using oral PrEP because of the assumption that PrEP is HIV treatment, and concern about the woman having oral PrEP side effects. Negative reactions to disclosure generally did not impact on oral PrEP use. Supportive disclosures sometimes resulted in reminders for oral PrEP dosing.ConclusionOur findings indicate that women are willing to disclose their PrEP use to at least one other person when supported. These study findings may contribute to future PrEP counselling guidelines and strategies. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-5059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-80573f9b2e4a48659013280e01d0b9b12025-01-07T06:49:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592025-01-01510.3389/fgwh.2024.15056431505643Disclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention among women enrolled in a contraceptive study: qualitative findings from Durban, South AfricaIvana Beesham0Mags Beksinska1Cecilia Milford2Cecilia Milford3Leila E. Mansoor4Wits MatCH Research Unit (WMRU), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South AfricaWits MatCH Research Unit (WMRU), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South AfricaWits MatCH Research Unit (WMRU), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South AfricaCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaBackgroundDisclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use for HIV prevention may improve adherence to PrEP; however, disclosure can be challenging and may result in stigma. Here, we describe disclosure of PrEP use among young women enrolled in a contraceptive study.MethodsIn this qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 13 women aged 18–25 years who initiated oral PrEP for HIV prevention during the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) Trial. Interviews were conducted in 2021 with women from Durban, South Africa. In this analysis, we explore women's experiences of PrEP disclosure including whether they disclosed PrEP use, who they disclosed to and the reaction to disclosure, and the impact of disclosure on PrEP use. Interviews were conducted in English, audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsAll women disclosed oral PrEP use to at least one individual, with some women disclosing to multiple individuals including family, friends, partners and community members. Few women did not disclose oral PrEP use to their partner due to anticipating a negative reaction from the partner, feeling that the partner would assume the woman has HIV and is taking antiretroviral therapy and fear that the partner would associate PrEP use with the woman having other partners. Reactions to oral PrEP disclosure were generally supportive or neutral, however, few women reported negative reactions that included distrust in the efficacy of PrEP to prevent HIV, discouraging the woman from using oral PrEP because of the assumption that PrEP is HIV treatment, and concern about the woman having oral PrEP side effects. Negative reactions to disclosure generally did not impact on oral PrEP use. Supportive disclosures sometimes resulted in reminders for oral PrEP dosing.ConclusionOur findings indicate that women are willing to disclose their PrEP use to at least one other person when supported. These study findings may contribute to future PrEP counselling guidelines and strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1505643/fulloral pre-exposure prophylaxisPrEP disclosureyoung womenSouth Africareactions to PrEP disclosure |
| spellingShingle | Ivana Beesham Mags Beksinska Cecilia Milford Cecilia Milford Leila E. Mansoor Disclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention among women enrolled in a contraceptive study: qualitative findings from Durban, South Africa Frontiers in Global Women's Health oral pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP disclosure young women South Africa reactions to PrEP disclosure |
| title | Disclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention among women enrolled in a contraceptive study: qualitative findings from Durban, South Africa |
| title_full | Disclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention among women enrolled in a contraceptive study: qualitative findings from Durban, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Disclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention among women enrolled in a contraceptive study: qualitative findings from Durban, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention among women enrolled in a contraceptive study: qualitative findings from Durban, South Africa |
| title_short | Disclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention among women enrolled in a contraceptive study: qualitative findings from Durban, South Africa |
| title_sort | disclosure of oral pre exposure prophylaxis use for hiv prevention among women enrolled in a contraceptive study qualitative findings from durban south africa |
| topic | oral pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP disclosure young women South Africa reactions to PrEP disclosure |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1505643/full |
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