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Title
HIV prevention at drug shops: awareness and attitudes among shop dispensers and young women about oral pre-exposure prophylaxis and the dapivirine ring in Shinyanga, Tanzania. |
Full text
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4ft0w6jq |
Date
2021 |
Author(s)
Tubert, Julia; Packel, Laura; Hunter, Lauren A; Mfaume, Rashid; Njau, Prosper; Ramadhani, Angela A; Liu, Jenny X; McCoy, Sandra I |
Abstract
BackgroundHIV risk remains high among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW, ages 15-24) in Tanzania. Many AGYW experience stigma and provider bias at health facilities, deterring their use of HIV prevention services. Privately-owned drug shops, ubiquitous in many communities, may be an effective and accessible channel to deliver HIV prevention products to AGYW, including oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the dapivirine vaginal ring.MethodsIn July-August 2019, we enrolled 26 drug shops in Shinyanga, Tanzania in an ongoing study to create "girl-friendly" drug shops where AGYW can access HIV self-testing and contraception. At baseline, all shop dispensers were given basic information about oral PrEP and the dapivirine ring and were asked about their interest in stocking each. During the next 3-5 months, we surveyed AGYW (nā=ā56) customers about their interest in oral PrEP and the ring.ResultsAmong dispensers, the median age was 42 years and 77% were female. Overall, 42% of dispensers had heard of a medication for HIV prevention. Almost all dispensers reported some interest in stocking oral PrEP (92%) and the dapivirine ring (96%). Most (85%) reported they would provide oral PrEP to AGYW who requested it. Among AGYW customers, the median age was 17 years; 29% of AGYW were married or had a steady partner and 18% had children. Only 20% of AGYW had heard of a medication to prevent HIV, yet 64% and 43% expressed some interest in using oral PrEP and the dapivirine ring, respectively, after receiving information about the products. PrEP interest was higher among AGYW who were partnered and had children.ConclusionsDespite low prior awareness of PrEP among shop dispensers and AGYW, we found high levels of interest in oral PrEP and the dapivirine ring in both groups. Community-based drug shops represent a promising strategy to make HIV prevention more accessible to AGYW. |
Subject(s)
Humans; HIV Infections; Pyrimidines; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Anti-HIV Agents; Health Knowledge; Attitudes; Practice; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Infant; Newborn; Tanzania; Female; Young Adult; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; Adolescent girls; Dapivirine ring; Drug shops; HIV; HIV prevention; Long-acting PrEP; PrEP; Pre-exposure prophylaxis; Sub-Saharan Africa; Young women; Pediatric AIDS; Pediatric; HIV/AIDS; Behavioral and Social Science; Prevention; Infectious Diseases; Infection; Immunology; Virology |
Coverage
21 |
Publisher
eScholarship, University of California |
Type of publication
article |
Format
application/pdf |
Source
AIDS research and therapy, vol 18, iss 1 |
Rights
public |
Identifier
qt4ft0w6jq |
Repository
Berkeley - University of California
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Added to C-A: 2022-10-10;08:53:35 |
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