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Dandadzi A, Young AM, Musara P, Shapley-Quinn MK, Kemigisha D, Mutero P, Mgodi NM, Etima J, Minnis AA. Perception of couples' on multipurpose prevention technology attribute choice: the case of MTN 045. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1876. [PMID: 39004714 PMCID: PMC11247780 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19390-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) are products capable of simultaneously addressing multiple sexual and reproductive health needs such as unwanted pregnancy, STIs including HIV-1, and other reproductive tract infections. MPTs are urgently needed to address the double burden of unplanned pregnancy and HIV. While condoms are currently the only accessible MPTs, they are not solely under a woman's control, and female condoms face limitations due to poor acceptability and high cost. METHODS We conducted a sub-analysis of qualitative data from 39 couples participating in the MTN 045 study to examine the perception of couples on choice and acceptability of a "2 in 1" MPT that combines HIV and pregnancy prevention. RESULTS Couples recognized the benefits of MPTs for HIV and pregnancy prevention but perceptions tied to each indication and a novel prevention technology tool raised important concerns relevant to use of future MPTs. In the study, participants' perceptions of MPT use were influenced by pregnancy planning. When the timing was less critical, they prioritized HIV prevention. Misinformation about family planning methods, including MPTs, affected decision-making with potential to hinder uptake of future MPTs. Concerns about side effects, such as weight gain and hormonal imbalances, influenced willingness to use MPTs. CONCLUSION Addressing the myths and misconceptions surrounding the use of contraceptives is crucial in promoting their acceptance and ultimate use. Strategies for addressing the drawbacks women might experience while using a particular product should be in place as new MPTs progress through the development pipeline and approach roll-out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adlight Dandadzi
- University of Zimbabwe-Clinical Trials Research Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| | - Alinda M Young
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Petina Musara
- University of Zimbabwe-Clinical Trials Research Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Doreen Kemigisha
- Makerere University-Johns Hopkins Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Prisca Mutero
- University of Zimbabwe-Clinical Trials Research Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Nyaradzo M Mgodi
- University of Zimbabwe-Clinical Trials Research Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Juliane Etima
- Makerere University-Johns Hopkins Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
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Moussa AB, Badahdah AM, Hidous K, Barakad R, Diallo F, Traoré M, Khodabocus N, Ebsen Treebhoobun A, Delabre R, Rojas Castro D, Ouarsas L, Karkouri M. Barriers to Oral PrEP: A Qualitative Study of Female Sex Workers, PrEP Prescribers, Policymakers, and Community Advocates in Morocco. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2024; 23:23259582241266691. [PMID: 39099547 PMCID: PMC11299217 DOI: 10.1177/23259582241266691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2017, Morocco became the first Arab country to incorporate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in its HIV-prevention program. Yet no research has been published on PrEP from Morocco. Although female sex workers are one of the target populations of PrEP in Morocco, their enrollment in PrEP is lower than men who have sex with men. In this study, we conducted 38 semi-structured interviews with female sex workers, physicians who prescribe PrEP, policymakers, and community advocates to identify problems associated with access to and use of PrEP. We also investigated preferences for daily oral, vaginal ring, and long-acting injectable PrEP. A reflexive thematic analysis revealed seven themes: PrEP stigma; stigmatization and criminalization of sex work; one size doesn't fit all; knowledge and misconceptions about PrEP; economic burden; inconvenience of PrEP pills; and preferred PrEP modalities. This paper discusses the implications of the findings for increasing access and use of PrEP in Morocco.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Ben Moussa
- Association de Lutte Contre le Sida (ALCS), Casablanca, Morocco
- Community-Based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
| | - Abdallah M Badahdah
- School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Khadija Hidous
- Association de Lutte Contre le Sida (ALCS), Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Rime Barakad
- Association de Lutte Contre le Sida (ALCS), Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Fodié Diallo
- ARCAD Santé PLUS/Centre Integré de Recherche, de Soins et d'Action Communautaire (CIRSAC) de Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mariam Traoré
- ARCAD Santé PLUS/Centre Integré de Recherche, de Soins et d'Action Communautaire (CIRSAC) de Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | | | | | - Rosemary Delabre
- Community-Based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
| | - Daniela Rojas Castro
- Community-Based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l’Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Lahoucine Ouarsas
- Association de Lutte Contre le Sida (ALCS), Casablanca, Morocco
- Community-Based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
| | - Mehdi Karkouri
- Association de Lutte Contre le Sida (ALCS), Casablanca, Morocco
- Community-Based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
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Parikh UM, Penrose KJ, Heaps AL, Sethi R, Goetz BJ, Szydlo D, Chandran U, Palanee-Phillips T, Mgodi NM, Baeten JM, Mellors JW. Brief Report: HIV Drug Resistance Assessment Among Women Who Seroconverted During the MTN-025/HOPE Open-Label Extension Dapivirine Vaginal Ring Trial. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2024; 95:35-41. [PMID: 37732881 PMCID: PMC11042691 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical trials of dapivirine (DPV) vaginal ring have shown it is safe, effective, and desired by women as an HIV prevention option. The risk of drug resistance is a potential concern for DPV ring users who acquire HIV. We conducted a comprehensive resistance evaluation of plasma samples from the women who seroconverted during the Microbicide Trials Network-025/HIV Open-label Prevention Extension (HOPE) study of DPV ring. METHODS Plasma collected on the visit at which seroconversion was detected was tested by next-generation sequencing with unique molecular identifiers for non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) drug resistance mutations (DRM) present at ≥1% frequency. Bulk-cloned plasma-derived recombinant HIV was phenotyped in a TZM-bl-based assay for susceptibility to DPV and other NNRTI. HIV-1 RNA was retrospectively quantified in plasma samples collected before HIV seroconversion. RESULTS Among 38 participants who seroconverted in HOPE, 7 (18%) had NNRTI DRM detected by next-generation sequencing with unique molecular identifiers including A98G, K103N, V106M, E138A, and V179D. Six of 7 samples with NNRTI DRM had <3-fold reduction in susceptibility to DPV. Only 1 sample with K103N and V179I polymorphism had 9-fold reduction in susceptibility to DPV, but this genotype occurred in an individual who did not use DPV ring, likely indicating transmitted resistance. Detection of NNRTI resistance was not higher in individuals who remained on DPV ring >3 months after acquiring HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS NNRTI resistance among women who seroconverted during HOPE was infrequent and selection of DPV-specific mutations was not detected. DPV ring is considered a safe and effective option for HIV prevention in women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Daniel Szydlo
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Thesla Palanee-Phillips
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- University of Washington, WA, USA; current affiliation Gilead Sciences, Foster City, CA, USA
| | | | - Jared M. Baeten
- University of Washington, WA, USA; current affiliation Gilead Sciences, Foster City, CA, USA
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Shapley-Quinn MK, Song M, Chen BA, Devlin B, Luecke E, Brown J, Blithe DL, Achilles SL, van der Straten A. Participant experiences with a multipurpose vaginal ring for HIV and pregnancy prevention during a phase 1 clinical trial: learning from users to improve acceptability. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2023; 5:1147628. [PMID: 37484873 PMCID: PMC10359149 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2023.1147628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction With high concurrent global rates of HIV incidence and unintended pregnancy, there is a need to provide options beyond condoms to enable users to simultaneously prevent HIV acquisition and pregnancy. Multiple vaginal rings are in development as "MPTs" (multipurpose prevention technologies) as they are shown to provide several co-occurring benefits such as discretion, convenience, reversibility and user control. Methods In this Phase 1 trial of a 3-month MPT ring in the U.S., 25 participants (low-risk for HIV and pregnancy) were randomized to use the study ring for 90 days continuously or in 28-day cycles with 2-day removal periods in between. All participants completed in-depth interviews at the end of their study participation. Results Overall, the ring was well tolerated. Participants resoundingly endorsed the concept of an extended-use, dual-purpose vaginal ring, but reported too many functional challenges and side effects to endorse this particular ring. Participants assigned to the continuous regimen reported more positive experiences with ring use than those in the cyclic group. A minority of participants who experienced minimal side effects and did not experience challenges with vaginal retention of the ring found it appealing. However, the majority of participants experienced challenges (ring slippage, expulsions, side effects, vaginal bleeding changes) with product use that outweighed the potential benefits and led them to report that - in the future - they would not be interested in using this specific version of the ring in its current form. A subset expressed interest in using the current MPT ring under certain conditions (e.g., if fewer expulsions, less bleeding, higher risk for HIV/pregnancy). Discussion User feedback regarding participant experiences and challenges with the study ring was continuously shared with the product developer, underscoring the value of early-stage end-user feedback in product development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mei Song
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Beatrice A. Chen
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Brid Devlin
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ellen Luecke
- Women’s Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Jill Brown
- Contraceptive Development Program, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Diana L. Blithe
- Contraceptive Development Program, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sharon L. Achilles
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Ariane van der Straten
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- ASTRA Consulting, Kensington, CA, United States
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