Primary Submission Category: Health behaviors
Perceptions of PrEP as a tool for self- protection among cis Black women
Authors: Mandy Hill Sarah Sapp Shadawn McCants Jeffrey Campbell Diane Santa Maria
Presenting Author: Mandy Hill*
Background: Heterosexual sex accounts for 85% of new HIV cases among women in Texas and most of those cases are among Black women. There is a need to explore perceptions of cisgender Black women relative to their reasons to considering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.
Methods: Qualitative methods were used to explore why women choose PrEP for HIV prevention among 20 Black women through focus group discussions.
Results: Themes identified from focus groups during an interim data analysis explored reasons to choose or not to choose PrEP. Participants conveyed fear of infection from male partners when engaging a new partner with an unknown HIV status. One participant stated, ‘[I would choose PrEP] because men are out here killing us and so the probability of me being raped or me being taken advantage of is higher. If I had access to PrEP, then condoms are starting to get high too, well, I am doubly covered.’ In regards to engaging in new sexual relationships, one participant stated, ‘If I am with someone who hasn’t made their status known, or they don’t know… especially being single in these dating streets, it would just be a lot easier to know that I could get a shot like Gardisil or the flu shot and I know that I am covered in some way, shape, or fashion. As opposed to always having a condom on me at all times.’
Conclusions: Study findings point to fear, a lack of trust, and perceived lack of transparency by male partners as motivators for PrEP initiation among some cisgender Black women who are aware that their risk of HIV through heterosexual sex is led by male partners. This information suggests better alignment of personal and actual risk among cisgender Black women.