High study participation but diverging adherence levels: qualitatively unpacking PrEP use among adolescent girls and young women over two years in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: In Southern and Eastern Africa, initiation of daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has been high among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) offered PrEP. However, persistence and prevention-effective use of PrEP among this critical group continues to be a challenge. We conducted a qualitative sub-study of AGYW from the Community PrEP Study in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa who had high rates of pick up for monthly PrEP refills over two years, but differing levels of PrEP adherence based on tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) measurements in dried blood spots (DBS). Contrasting 22 AGYW with low versus high levels of TFV-DP in DBS, we qualitatively explored factors which influenced PrEP persistence vs. non-persistence, unique patterns of PrEP use (e.g., discarding

SUBMITTER: Krogstad Mudzingwa E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10944421 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature