These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.
Pubmed for Handhelds
PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS
Search MEDLINE/PubMed
Title: Key stakeholders' perspectives on providing oral pre-exposure prophylaxis as HIV-prevention standard of care in clinical trials in South Africa. Author: Beesham I, Milford C, Joseph Davey DL, Smit J, Mansoor LE, Beksinska M. Journal: Afr J AIDS Res; 2023 Apr; 22(1):18-26. PubMed ID: 36951406. Abstract: Introduction: HIV-prevention and endpoint-driven clinical trials enrol individuals at substantial risk of HIV. Recently, these trials have provided oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as HIV-prevention standard of care; however, data on PrEP uptake and use during the trial and post-trial access are lacking.Methods: We conducted once-off, telephonic, in-depth interviews from August 2020 to March 2021, with 15 key stakeholders (including site directors/leaders, principal investigators and clinicians), purposively recruited from research sites across South Africa that are known to conduct HIV-prevention and endpoint-driven clinical trials. The interview guide probed for facilitators and barriers to PrEP uptake and use during the trial, and post-trial PrEP access. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Coding was facilitated using NVivo and emergent themes were identified.Results: Most stakeholders reported incorporating PrEP as part of the HIV-prevention package in HIV-prevention and endpoint-driven clinical trials. Stakeholders identified multiple barriers to PrEP uptake and use, including difficulties with daily pill taking, side effects, stigma, a lack of demand creation and limited knowledge and education about PrEP in communities. Facilitators of PrEP uptake and use included demand-creation campaigns and trial staff providing quality counselling and education. Post-trial PrEP access was frequently challenging as facilities were located a considerable distance from research sites, had long queues and inconvenient operating hours.Conclusions: Strategies to address barriers to PrEP uptake and use during trials and post-trial access, such as PrEP demand creation, education and counselling, addressing stigma, support for daily pill-taking and increased post-trial access, are urgently needed.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]