"When he is around, I'll take the PrEP, but when he is not, I will not take PrEP": key influences on PrEP use decisions among women attending family planning clinics in Kenya.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Women of childbearing age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face a disproportionately high risk of HIV acquisition. Although oral PrEP has been universally scaled up for individuals at significant risk of HIV, its uptake and sustained use remain suboptimal. Understanding PrEP use decisions offers insights into context-specific barriers and facilitators to its utilization.

Methods

From September to November 2023, we conducted a qualitative study nested in a larger prospective, open-label clinical trial (FP-Plus). We conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) with younger women (ages 15-24) and older women (ages ≥25) who declined, delayed, discontinued, or restarted PrEP during the study. IDIs were conducted at two FP clinics by trained Kenyan social scientists and were audio r

SUBMITTER: Ogello V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12283639 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature