Empowering Women's PrEP Choices: Qualitative Insights into Long-Acting PrEP Preferences and Decision-Making during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in South Africa and Botswana.

ABSTRACT: Pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBW) are at heightened risk of HIV acquisition. We aimed to explore PBW's preferences of various long-acting PrEP modalities. In-depth interviews were conducted with PBW at three sites: Cape Town, East London (South Africa), and Gaborone (Botswana). We conducted thematic analysis, guided by the Health Belief Model, to examine participants' HIV risk perception during pregnancy and breastfeeding, their perceived individual-level facilitators and barriers of each PrEP modality, and the support needed by participants for PrEP uptake and continuation. 40 participants were interviewed, aged 18-39 years (mean 27 years), including 13 adolescent girls and young women (AGYW; 18-24 years). Participants were either pregnant (n = 20) or breastfeeding (n = 20). Perceive

SUBMITTER: Chen-Charles J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12816032 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature