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Mujugira A, Nakyanzi A, Bagaya M, Mugisha J, Kamusiime B, Nalumansi A, Kasiita V, Ssebuliba T, Nampewo O, Nsubuga R, Muwonge TR, Bukenya M, Gandhi M, Wyatt MA, Ware NC, Haberer JE. Integrated PrEP and STI Services for Transgender Women in Uganda: Qualitative Findings from a Randomized Trial. AIDS Behav 2024:10.1007/s10461-024-04469-x. [PMID: 39222182 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04469-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (F/TAF) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is understudied in sub-Saharan Africa. The Tandika PrEP study was a randomized trial that evaluated same-day F/TAF initiation, the impact of drug-level feedback on PrEP adherence, and integrated PrEP and sexually transmitted infection (STI) services for HIV-negative transgender women (TGW) in Uganda (NCT04491422). From April 2022-February 2023, a qualitative sub-study of 30 in-depth interviews explored (1) perspectives on same-day initiation of F/TAF PrEP, (2) experiences of urine tenofovir testing and drug-level feedback, and (3) descriptions of self-collection of samples for STI testing. Qualitative data were analyzed using an inductive content analytic approach. Integrated PrEP/STI services were valued by TGW because the convenience of urine testing motivated adherence and allowed for tenofovir and STI detection. (1) Preferred characteristics: F/TAF-based PrEP was easy to take and not readily identifiable as an HIV-related medication, resulting in less stigma than the better-known tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (F/TDF). Weight gain associated with F/TAF use was viewed positively by TGW as a symbol of health and prosperity in African settings. (2) Adherence motivation: PrEP adherence was motivated by a desire not to disappoint healthcare workers; TGW reciprocated adherence support and drug-level feedback by taking PrEP. (3) Facilitating adherence and STI care: Urine testing enhanced STI detection and treatment. Utilization of urine for tenofovir and STI testing motivated the uptake of HIV/STI care, emphasizing the importance of integrated PrEP and STI services. Integrating PrEP/STI services into differentiated delivery models could increase prevention uptake in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Mujugira
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Agnes Nakyanzi
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Monica Bagaya
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jackson Mugisha
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Brenda Kamusiime
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Alisaati Nalumansi
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Vicent Kasiita
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Timothy Ssebuliba
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Olivia Nampewo
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Rogers Nsubuga
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Timothy R Muwonge
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Monica Gandhi
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Monique A Wyatt
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Global, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Norma C Ware
- Harvard Global, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica E Haberer
- Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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Restar A, Minalga BJ, Quilantang MI, Adamson T, Dusic E, van der Merwe LA, Millet G, Rosadiño D, Laguing T, Lett E, Everhart A, Phillips G, Janamnuaysook R, Seekaew P, Baker K, Ashley F, Wickersham J, Wallace SE, Operario D, Gamarel KE. Mapping Community-Engaged Implementation Strategies with Transgender Scientists, Stakeholders, and Trans-Led Community Organizations. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2023; 20:160-169. [PMID: 37012537 PMCID: PMC10071255 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-023-00656-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) represents one of the most effective methods of prevention for HIV, but remains inequitable, leaving many transgender and nonbinary (trans) individuals unable to benefit from this resource. Deploying community-engaged PrEP implementation strategies for trans populations will be crucial for ending the HIV epidemic. RECENT FINDINGS While most PrEP studies have progressed in addressing pertinent research questions about gender-affirming care and PrEP at the biomedical and clinical levels, research on how to best implement gender-affirming PrEP systems at the social, community, and structural levels remains outstanding. The science of community-engaged implementation to build gender-affirming PrEP systems must be more fully developed. Most published PrEP studies with trans people report on outcomes rather than processes, leaving out important lessons learned about how to design, integrate, and implement PrEP in tandem with gender-affirming care. The expertise of trans scientists, stakeholders, and trans-led community organizations is essential to building gender-affirming PrEP systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjee Restar
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | | | - Ma Irene Quilantang
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Tyler Adamson
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emerson Dusic
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Leigh-Ann van der Merwe
- Social, Health and Empowerment Feminist Collective of Transgender Women of Africa, East London, South Africa
| | - Greg Millet
- The Foundation for AIDS Research, amfAR, amfAR, Washington, D.C, USA
| | | | - Tanya Laguing
- LoveYourself Inc, Manila, Philippines
- DIOSSA Inc, Taguig, Philippines
| | - Elle Lett
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Avery Everhart
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gregory Phillips
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rena Janamnuaysook
- Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, Bangkok, Thailand
- Tangerine Community Health Clinic, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pich Seekaew
- Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kellan Baker
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Whitman-Walker Institute, Washington, D.C, USA
| | - Florence Ashley
- Faculty of Law and Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Wickersham
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephaun E Wallace
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Don Operario
- Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Emory Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kristi E Gamarel
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Jin H, Restar A, Beyrer C. Overview of the epidemiological conditions of HIV among key populations in Africa. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 24 Suppl 3:e25716. [PMID: 34190412 PMCID: PMC8242974 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite extraordinary progress in HIV treatment coverage and expanding access to HIV prevention services and that multiple African countries are on track in their efforts to reach 90-90-90 goals, the epidemic continues to persist, with prevalence and incidence rates too high in some parts of the continent to achieve epidemic control. While data sources are improving, and research studies on key populations in specific contexts have improved, work on understanding the HIV burdens and barriers to services for these populations remains sparse, uneven and absent altogether in multiple settings. More data have become available in the last several years, and data published in 2010 or more recently are reviewed here for each key population. This scoping review assesses the current epidemiology of HIV among key populations in Africa and the social and political environments that contribute to the epidemic, both of which suggest that without significant policy reform, these epidemics will likely continue. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Across Africa, the HIV epidemic is most severe among key populations including women and men who sell or trade sex, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender women who have sex with men and prisoners and detainees. These groups account for the majority of new infections in West and Central Africa, and an estimated 25% of new infections in East and Southern Africa, despite representing relatively small proportions of those populations. The HIV literature in Africa emphasizes that despite significant health needs, key populations experience barriers to accessing services within the healthcare and legal justice systems. Current shortcomings of surveillance systems in enumerating key populations impact the way funding mechanisms and resources are allocated and distributed. Adapting more equitable and epidemiologically sound frameworks will be necessary for current and future HIV programming investments. CONCLUSIONS Through this review, the available literature on HIV epidemiology among key populations in Africa brings to light a number of surveillance, programmatic and research gaps. For many communities, interventions targeting the health and security conditions continue to be minimal. Compelling evidence suggests that sweeping policy and programmatic changes are needed to effectively tackle the persistent HIV epidemic in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Jin
- Department of EpidemiologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Arjee Restar
- Department of EpidemiologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Chris Beyrer
- Department of EpidemiologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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