Abstract
Objective
Family planning (FP) clinics are an ideal setting to disseminate information about
pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but little is known about women's preferences for
learning about PrEP in this setting.
Study design
We surveyed 500 women seeking care at 4 FP clinics in Atlanta. Before their provider
visit, participants completed an HIV-risk screener. After, we asked participants about
the HIV prevention counseling they received and how clinics could share information
about PrEP. We performed descriptive analyses on demographics, HIV risk, and PrEP
awareness/interest, and conducted thematic analysis on open-ended responses.
Results
Only 18% knew about PrEP before the study; 28% of 376 sexually-active women had≥1
risk indicator consistent with PrEP eligibility. Three hundred forty seven women (69%)
shared suggestions about how clinics should share PrEP information. We categorized
suggestions into 4 themes - Advertising, Conversations, Awareness and Access. Participants
(n=150) suggested clinics should advertise PrEP via brochures, posters, texts, or
emails; 134 wanted providers to talk to patients about PrEP. Several (n=71) suggested
sharing PrEP information broadly in the community and with other clinics/providers;
others (n=11) wanted improved access to PrEP services.
Conclusions
Our results demonstrate overwhelming patient interest in learning more about PrEP
through educational materials and directly from FP providers. Women were vocal about
increasing PrEP awareness in the community, particularly among populations especially
at risk for HIV (e.g., teens). These suggestions can be translated into actionable
steps FP clinics can take to increase PrEP awareness and expand their reach to benefit
women at risk for HIV.
Implications
High HIV rates among women in the South make it imperative to increase awareness of
PrEP among women. Atlanta women seeking care in FP clinics valued learning about PrEP
and recommended feasible strategies for disseminating information about PrEP in community
settings, the clinic or during patient-provider discussion.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 31, 2019
Accepted:
December 27,
2018
Received in revised form:
December 23,
2018
Received:
June 13,
2018
Footnotes
☆Acknowledgments of funding and conflicts of interest: Support for this research was provided to J. Sales by an Investigator Sponsored Grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc. (CO-US-276-4060). A. Sheth also receives grant funding from Gilead Sciences. A. Sheth receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (1K23AI114407).
Identification
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