"Nobody Wants to Have Conversation About HIV." A Thematic Analysis of in-Depth Interviews With Black Adolescent Women and Providers About Strategies for Discussing Sexual Health and HIV Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Black adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in the US Southeast are disproportionately burdened by HIV. Infrequent assessment of sexual health in clinical encounters may contribute to low preexposure prophylaxis uptake for this population. This study explores Black AGYW and providers' perspectives on engaging in discussions about sexual health, including preexposure prophylaxis. METHODS: In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with Black AGYW aged 14 to 24 years and health care providers (MD, DO, NP, PA) who self-reported caring for Black AGYWs in Alabama. In-depth interviews were grounded in Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Service Utilization to explore barriers and facilitators to sexual health discussions. After separate analyses, AGYW and provider IDIs were aggregated and reanalyzed using thematic analysis to identify themes related to their views on ways to improve Black AGYW engagement in sexual health discussions while in clinical settings. RESULTS: Twelve Black AGYW and 11 providers completed IDIs. Client median age was 21 years, representing 9 Alabama counties. Providers were predominately non-Hispanic White (82%), female (73%), and physicians (64%). Themes about ways to improve sexual health discussions included the following: (1) improve sexual health education for providers and adolescents, (2) normalize conversations in clinical settings, and (3) engage communities to continue these conversations outside of clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual health and HIV prevention discussions with Black AGYW are not occurring. This study is one of the first to identify and highlight Black AGYW and provider-identified shared strategies for improving these discussions. Operationalizing these strategies is crucial to facilitating these discussions.

"Just the Stigma Associated with PrEP Makes You Feel Like It's HIV Itself": Exploring PrEP Stigma, Skepticism, and Medical Mistrust Among Black Cisgender Women in Urban and Rural Counties in the U.S. Deep South.

Despite its effectiveness in HIV prevention, PrEP use among Black women is suboptimal. Notably in the Deep South, Black women have the lowest PrEP uptake rates among all US regions. To increase PrEP engagement, research suggests the implementation of structural and social interventions particular to the needs of Black women. The state of Alabama is of priority to federal HIV prevention initiatives; therefore, this study conducted focus groups among 47 cis-gender Black women in rural and urban Alabama counties, with the highest statewide HIV incidence rates, to understand perceptions of PrEP and decision-making processes. Deductive coding analysis was conducted and themes were finalized based on consensus among the two coders. Four themes were identified. Findings show stigma undergirds Alabaman Black women's decisions to engage in PrEP care. Moreover, women reported stigma stifled community-level education about PrEP. Despite these experiences, education was regarded as a strategy to decrease stigma and PrEP skepticism, the latter of which emerged as a prominent theme. Medical mistrust and healthcare engagement were the other emergent themes influencing participation in PrEP care. To ensure PrEP efforts meet the needs of Black cisgender women in Alabama counties, interventions must address longstanding stigma, increase educational initiatives, and ensure interventions consider women's experiences with medical mistrust and health care engagement.

A mixed methods evaluation assessing the feasibility of implementing a PrEP data dashboard in the Southeastern United States.

BACKGROUND: Alabama is one of seven priority states for the National Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative due to a disproportionate burden of rural infections. To reverse growing infection rates, the state must increase its focus on prevention efforts, including novel strategies. One such approach is to utilize dashboards that visualize real-time data on the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care continuum to assist in prioritizing evidence-based preventative care for those most vulnerable for HIV infection. METHODS: We conducted a mixed methods evaluation to ascertain stakeholders' perceptions on the acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and usability of a PrEP care continuum dashboard, as well as gain insight on ways to improve the activities necessary to sustain it. Clinicians, administrators, and data personnel from participating sites in Alabama completed surveys (n = 9) and participated in key informant interviews (n = 10) to better understand their experiences with the prototype data dashboard and to share feedback on how it can be modified to best fit their needs. RESULTS: Surveys and interviews revealed that all participants find the pilot data dashboard to be an acceptable, feasible, and appropriate intervention for clinic use. Overall, stakeholders find the pilot dashboard to be usable and helpful in administrative efforts, such as report and grant writing; however, additional refining is needed in order to reduce burden and optimize usefulness. Participants voiced concerns about their site's abilities to sustain the dashboard, including the lack of systematized PrEP protocols and limited funds and staff time dedicated to PrEP data collection, cleaning, and upload. CONCLUSION: Study participants from clinics providing HIV prevention services, including PrEP, in Alabama voiced interest in sustaining and refining a data dashboard that tracks clients across the PrEP care continuum. Despite viewing the platform itself as an acceptable, feasible, and appropriate intervention, participants agreed that efforts need to be focused on standardizing PrEP data collection protocols in order to ensure consistent, accurate data capture and that limited funds and staff time are barriers to the sustained implementation of the dashboard in practice.

A Note on Preexposure Prophylaxis Preferences Among Women Who Inject Drugs.

ABSTRACT: We informed women who inject drugs about different preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) formulations; they then ranked their preferences. Daily oral PrEP was most preferred, followed by injectable PrEP and vaginal rings/gels, especially among women of color. Multiple PrEP options should be discussed with women who inject drugs to increase uptake.

Factors Associated With Willingness to Use Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Black Cisgender Women Residing in Rural and Urban Areas: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Black cisgender women (CGW) are disproportionately impacted by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the United States. Black women account for 57% of the total new diagnoses among CGW. In addition, Black CGW women are 9 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than their White counterparts. METHODS: We conducted surveys (September 2019-March 2020) and collected information on sociodemographics, HIV/preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) knowledge, HIV/PrEP stigma, sexual practices, and other factors identified as PrEP barriers among Black CGW (n = 795). This cross-sectional study used logistic regression models to assess intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural factors among individuals willing to use PrEP versus individuals unwilling or unsure to use PrEP. RESULTS: Our study population had a mean age of 37 years, predominantly lived in urban areas (65%), had stable housing (96.7%), and had private insurance/Medicare (78.2%). Overall, 29.6% reported willingness to use PrEP, 35.6% reported unwillingness to use PrEP, and 34.8% were unsure of PrEP use. The multivariable analysis showed that, compared with individuals reporting unwillingness/unsure to PrEP use, those reporting willingness to PrEP use were younger (adjusted odds ratio [AOR; 95% confidence interval {CI}], 0.97 [0.96-0.99]), had lower odds of intimate partner violence (AOR [95% CI], 0.87 [0.78-0.98), and had higher odds of organizational religiosity (AOR [95% CI], 1.10 [1.01-1.20]), HIV knowledge (AOR [95% CI], 1.08 [1.03-1.13]), and perceived need for PrEP (AOR [95% CI], 6.38 [3.36-12.11]). CONCLUSIONS: Preexposure prophylaxis willingness among Black CGW was impacted by individual-level, interpersonal, and structural factors. Improving PrEP willingness and uptake among Black CGW will require multilevel interventions.

COVID Community-Engaged Testing in Alabama: Reaching Underserved Rural Populations Through Collaboration.

Rural communities are often underserved by public health testing initiatives in Alabama. As part of the National Institutes of Health's Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics‒Underserved Populations initiative, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with community partners, sought to address this inequity in COVID-19 testing. We describe the participatory assessment, selection, and implementation phases of this project, which administered more than 23 000 COVID-19 tests throughout the state, including nearly 4000 tests among incarcerated populations. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(10):1399-1403. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306985).

PrEP service delivery preferences of black Cis-gender women living in the Southern United States.

To assess PrEP service delivery preferences among Black cis-gender women living in urban and rural settings in Alabama, we conducted a cross-sectional discrete choice experiment survey. Discrete choice experiments included five attributes. Hierarchical Bayes (HB) modeling and latent class analyses (LCA) were used to evaluate attribute preferences. Among 795 Black cis-gender HIV-negative women, almost two-thirds lived in urban settings and reported having at least some college; about a third reported a household income less than $25,000 annually; and reported willingness to use PrEP. Respondents placed the greatest importance on PrEP medication formulation and healthcare facility. LCA showed the group with the highest rural proportion preferred for on-line visits. Black women in the Deep South had distinct preferences regarding PrEP service delivery. These findings can inform tailored interventions to improve PrEP uptake among Black cis-gender women across diverse settings in the South.

Understanding social capital among young black gay and bisexual men living with HIV: a qualitative exploration.

Social capital, defined as the sum of an individual's resource-containing, reciprocal and trustworthy social network connections, has been associated with improved engagement in care among people living with HIV globally. We conducted a qualitative interview study of social capital among 28 young Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men ages 18-29 living with HIV in Atlanta, Georgia. We asked participants about bonding capital (relationships between individuals with similar demographic characteristics), bridging capital (relationships with individuals of different backgrounds), collective efficacy (involvement with community organisations) and satisfaction with their social networks. We found that participants described bonding capital from friends and family in depth, while more gaps were noted in bridging capital and collective efficacy. Bonding capital derived from families was especially critical to participants' satisfaction with their social capital. Findings suggest that interventions targeting young Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men should build upon strong bonds with family and friends, and/or fill gaps in bridging capital and collective efficacy by connecting young men to mentors and organisations.

Missed Prevention Opportunities: Why Young, Black MSM with Recent HIV Diagnosis did not Access HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Services.

In the United States, HIV infection rate inequities persist, with new infections highest among young, Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the South. We conducted 23 in-depth interviews with YBMSM newly diagnosed with HIV to explore awareness of and barriers to uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Participants were recruited from two university-based HIV Clinics in Alabama and were: (1) 16-29 years of age, (2) diagnosed with HIV within the prior 365 days, (3) Black race, (4) self-identified as a cis-gender male reporting sex with men AND (5) did not report prior PrEP use. Interview guides were grounded in Anderson's Behavioral Healthcare Utilization Model (ABM), with embedded constructs from the situated Information, Motivation and Behavioral Skills theoretical framework. Coding was conducted by three independent coders using thematic analysis methods. Participants (N = 23) median age was 24, more than two-thirds reported annual incomes less than $15,000 and the majority (84%) identified as gay. Major themes that emerged as barriers to accessing PrEP included low prioritization and interests in using PrEP; low perceived HIV risk due to feelings of invincibility and trust in sex partners; lack of information about accessing PrEP; negative beliefs around PrEP; and the suggestion to change PrEP messaging from only targeting YBMSM. These findings indicate that there are important missed opportunities for HIV prevention with PrEP among YBMSM in the South. In these high-risk young men, tailored interventions are needed to better inform and frame perceptions around risk, knowledge, access and prioritization of PrEP.

En Estados Unidos, desigualdades en la tasa de infección por VIH persisten, y en el sur del pais, la tasa de nuevas infecciones hombres jóvenes Afro-americanos que tienen sexo con hombres son más altas. Realizamos veintitrés entrevistas en profundidad con YBMSM recién diagnosticado con VIH para explorar la conciencia y las barreras para la adopción de la profilaxis previa a la exposición al VIH (PrEP). Los participantes fueron reclutados de dos clínicas de VIH en centros medicos academicos en el estado de Alabama con los siguientes criterios: 1) 16-29 años de edad, 2) diagnostico VIH dentro de los 365 días, 3) raza afro-americana, 4) autoidentificados como un género cis-hombres que tienen sexo con hombres, y 5) no informaron el uso previo de PrEP. Las guías de la entrevista se basaron en el Modelo conductual de utilización de la salud (ABM) de Anderson, con construcciones integradas del marco teórico de Información, motivación y habilidades conductuales. Tres codificadores independientes codificaron utilizando métodos de análisis temáticos. La edad mediana de los participantes (N = 23) era de 24 años, más de dos tercios informaron ingresos anuales de menos de $15,000 (USD) y la mayoría (84%) se identificó como gay. Los temas principales que surgieron como barreras para acceder a PrEP incluyeron una baja priorización e interes en su; bajo riesgo percibido de VIH debido a sentimientos de invencibilidad y confianza en las parejas sexuales; falta de información sobre el acceso a PrEP; creencias negativas sobre PrEP; y la sugerencia de enfocar los mensajes sobre PreP no solo ha jovenes afro-americanos que tienen sexo con hombres. Estos hallazgos indican que hay importantes oportunidades perdidas para la prevención del VIH con PrEP entre esto jovenes en el Sur de EEUU. En estos hombres jóvenes de alto riesgo, se necesitan intervenciones personalizadas para mejor informar y enmarcar las percepciones sobre el riesgo, el conocimiento, el acceso y la priorización de PrEP.

A Qualitative Study: The Journey to Self-Acceptance of Sexual Identity among Young, Black MSM in the South.

HIV disparities among Young, Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) persist despite concerted efforts to increase uptake of prevention tools like HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We conducted in-depth interviews with 25 YBMSM (aged 18-29 years old) to understand factors contributing to PrEP access in Birmingham, Alabama. We identified that one major barrier to PrEP uptake was intersectional stigma related to their multiple identities and contributed to lack of feeling able to accept their sexual identities. Facilitators of validation and acceptance of sexual identity were strong social support networks, which participants reported consisted of, not only other gay and bisexual Black men, but also Black women, an unexplored social support group among YBMSM networks. However, participants felt that internal, perceived and experienced homophobia were exacerbated in Southern, Black communities due to perceived values surrounding masculinity, which were reinforced by religious doctrine. Looking forward, public health officials will need to add additional resources to support interventions that have meso-level impact to effectively change social norms as a critical determinant of individual-level prevention practices within this at-risk group and their social networks.

Identifying Missed Opportunities for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-exposure Prophylaxis During Preventive Care and Reproductive Visits in Adolescents in the Deep South.

BACKGROUND: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for individuals at significant risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus acquisition is approved for individuals weighing at least 35 kg by the Food and Drug Administration. This cross-sectional study analyzed indications for PrEP in a clinical setting. METHODS: There were 429 charts reviewed from adolescents between 15 and 21 years old seen for preventive care visits at an adolescent primary care center in the Deep South during a 1-year timeframe. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses were completed to identify factors associated with indications for PrEP. RESULTS: Forty-four percent of 429 adolescents (between 15 and 21 years) had a PrEP indication; 77% were women and 95% heterosexual. Significant factors associated with an indication for PrEP included living with a nonparent or nonrelative and polysubstance use. No adolescents with an indication for PrEP were prescribed PrEP. A sensitivity analysis comparing indications for PrEP between the 2014 and 2017 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines revealed no significant differences in percent with an indication (44.5% vs. 42.8%) or factors associated with indications. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-exposure prophylaxis as a biomedical tool for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) may remain underutilized. A key factor in improving utilization involves providers being able to recognize AYAs who may have an indication for PrEP with a specific focus on those AYAs who do not live in households with parents or a surrogate family member and those who are polysubstance users.

Implementation Strategies to Increase PrEP Uptake in the South.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Seven years after TDF/FTC was approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce risks of HIV infection, there have been large increases in the number of persons using PrEP in the USA. However, recent data on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use at the state level indicate that people living in the Southern United States are underserved by PrEP relative to their epidemic need. We sought to review possible reasons for inequitable uptake of PrEP in the South and identify implementation approaches to increase PrEP uptake in the South. RECENT FINDINGS: Published literature, data on the locations of PrEP service providers, recent data on PrEP utilization from pharmacy prescription databases, HIV surveillance data and government data on healthcare providers, and health literacy indicate a confluence of factors in the South that are likely limiting PrEP uptake. A variety of approaches are needed to address the complex challenges to PrEP implementation in the South. These include considering alternative PrEP provision strategies (e.g., pharmacy-based PrEP, telemedicine-delivered PrEP), conducting gain-based stigma-reduction campaigns, increasing capacity for reimbursement for PrEP medications and services through policy change to expand Medicaid and to preserve access to Affordable Care Act-compliant health plans, expanding STI screening programs and improving integration of PrEP offering with delivery of positive STI results, using mHealth tools to screen groups at highest risk for HIV (e.g., men who have sex with men) periodically to increase correct perception of risk, and streamlining clinical procedures to allow same-day PrEP starts for patients without obvious medical contraindications. Overcoming the structural, capacity, and policy challenges to increasing PrEP uptake in the South will require innovations in clinical approaches, leveraging technologies, and policy changes. The South has unique challenges to achieving equitable PrEP uptake, and addressing key barriers to expanded PrEP use will require multisectoral responses.

Reported Church Attendance at the Time of Entry into HIV Care is Associated with Viral Load Suppression at 12 Months.

The Southeast has high rates of church attendance and HIV infection rates. We evaluated the relationship between church attendance and HIV viremia in a Southeastern US, HIV-infected cohort. Viremia (viral load ≥200 copies/ml) was analyzed 12 months after initiation of care. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were fit for variables potentially related to viremia. Of 382 patients, 74 % were virally suppressed at 12 months. Protective variables included church attendance (AOR 0.5; 95 % CI 0.2, 0.9), being on antiretroviral therapy (AOR 0.01; 95 % CI 0.004, 0.04), CD4(+) T lymphocyte count 200-350 cells/mm(3) at care entry (AOR 0.3; 95 % 0.1, 0.9), and education (AOR 0.5; 95 % CI 0.2, 0.9). Variables predicting viremia included black race (AOR 3.2; 95 % CI 1.4, 7.4) and selective disclosure of HIV status (AOR 2.7; 95 % CI 1.2, 5.6). Church attendance may provide needed support for patients entering HIV care for the first time.

El Sur Este de los Estados Unidos tiene tasas altas de visitas a iglesias y de infección por VIH. Evaluamos la relación entre visitas a iglesias y viremia por VIH en una cohorte de pacientes infectados con VIH en el Sur Este de los EEUU. La viremia (carga viral ≥ 200 copias/ml) fue analizada a los 12 meses de iniciar el cuidado médico. Los modelos de regresión logística univariado y multivariado fueron ajustados para variables potencialmente relacionadas a viremia. De 382 pacientes, 75 % tuvieron supresión virológica a los 12 meses. Variables que ofrecieron protección fueron visitas a iglesias (AOR 0.5; IC95 % 0.2-0.9), recibir terapia antiretroviral (AOR 0.01; IC95 % 0.004,0.04), recuento de linfocitos T CD4 + 200-350 al iniciar cuidado médico (AOR 0.3; IC95 % 0.1,09), y educación (AOR 0.5; IC95 % 0.2,0.9). Las variables que predijeron viremia incluyeron raza negra (AOR 3.2; IC95 % 1.4,7.4) y la comunicación selectiva del diagnóstico de VIH a otras personas (AOR 2.7; 95 % IC 1.2, 5.6). El asistir a iglesias puede proveer un suporte a los pacientes que inician cuidado médico por infección por VIH.

Predictors of HIV Disclosure in Infected Persons Presenting to Establish Care.

Persons receiving effective HIV treatment experience longevity and improvement in quality of life. For those infected, social support is associated with improved medication adherence. Disclosure of infection status is likely a prerequisite for social support. However, little research describes patterns of HIV disclosure by infected persons. We retrospectively evaluated factors associated with disclosure among patients initiating HIV care at a university-based clinic from 2007 to 2012. Of 490 persons initiating care, 13 % had not disclosed their HIV infection to anyone. Black race significantly predicted non-disclosure and persons living with a significant other or friends were more likely to have disclosed their HIV infection versus those living alone. CD4 + T lymphocyte count <200 was associated with nondisclosure and disclosure only to family members. Future research is needed to better understand factors associated with disclosure of HIV infection status, because this could enhance receipt of social support and contribute to improved HIV health outcomes.

HIV PrEP Coverage Among Black Adults: A Concept Analysis of the Inequities, Disparities, and Implications.

Background: Significant racial disparities exist in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage in the United States (U.S), with Black individuals experiencing seven times higher new HIV infection rates compared to their White counterparts. Despite being the highest priority population at risk for HIV, Black adults have the lowest PrEP coverage, impacting the overall progress toward meeting the ending the HIV epidemic (EHE) goals in the U.S. Methods: Utilizing the Walker and Avant method, this concept analysis examined existing literature and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention resources to explore HIV PrEP coverage. Results: Findings highlighted a lack of clarity in the concept, resulting in four operational definitions. To address this ambiguity, a conceptual definition of HIV PrEP coverage was proposed, focusing on equitable access to PrEP medication among sexually active individuals aged 18-64 years, particularly those traditionally underserved and would benefit from PrEP. This inclusive definition aims to align with the dynamics of sexual behavior in racial minority groups. Key attributes of this conceptual definition include estimates of PrEP use, access, need, cost, side effects, frequency of HIV testing, and self-efficacy. Antecedents entail HIV status, testing behaviors, transmission risks, and communication with health care providers. Consequences involve perceptions of risk, screening routines, provider biases, stigma, and potential HIV transmission reduction. Conclusion: Analyzing HIV PrEP coverage offers useful insights into social and structural factors exacerbating health inequities in the field of HIV prevention and control. This concept analysis underscores the importance of unified sexual health communication, diverse approaches to PrEP access for racial minorities, and improved sexual health policies for Black adults. Moreover, understanding and advocating for equity in HIV PrEP coverage is crucial for addressing the existing racial disparities and achieving the EHE objectives in the U.S.

Inequities Along the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Services Continuum for Black Women in the United States, 2015-2020.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the number of women who received human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services by race and ethnicity in seven THRIVE (Targeted Highly Effective Interventions to Reverse the HIV Epidemic)-funded jurisdictions and to estimate associations of age and syphilis and gonorrhea diagnoses with receipt of HIV PrEP services. METHODS: We analyzed data collected from 2015 to 2020 in Birmingham, Alabama; Baltimore City, Maryland; Washington, DC, New Orleans, Louisiana; Brooklyn, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Hampton Roads, Virginia. We compared Black women and women of additional racial and ethnic groups by age, HIV status at enrollment, receipt of STI testing and test positivity, and steps in the PrEP continuum (screened, eligible, referred, linked, and prescribed). We also examined the association of age, syphilis, or gonorrhea with the following steps in the PrEP continuum: screened, referred, linked, and prescribed. RESULTS: Black women made up 69.2% (8,758/12,647) of women served in THRIVE. Compared with non-Black women, Black women were more likely to have a positive test result for syphilis (3.3% vs 2.1%), gonorrhea (4.9% vs 3.5%), chlamydia (5.1% vs 1.9%), or more than one STI (1.4% vs 0.3%). Among women with negative HIV test results or unknown HIV status, Black women were more likely to be screened for PrEP eligibility (88.4% vs 64.9%). Among Black women, the proportion screened for PrEP was higher among those diagnosed with syphilis (97.3%) or gonorrhea (100%) than among those without an STI (88.1% and 87.8%, respectively). Among 219 Black women who presented with syphilis, only 10 (4.6%) were prescribed PrEP; among 407 with gonorrhea, only 11 (2.7%) were prescribed PrEP. CONCLUSION: Although most Black women seeking services received STI testing, the proportion of Black women who were eligible for PrEP and prescribed PrEP was low. To achieve national HIV-prevention goals, it is imperative that Black women have access to PrEP information and services.

Perceptions of and preferences for PrEP use among African American women and providers in the U.S. South: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: African American (AA) women in the U.S. South experience significant HIV incidence, and efforts to support antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and maintenance among this group have been insufficient. This study aimed to explore perceptions, attitudes, and implementation preferences surrounding PrEP use for AA women in the U.S. South. METHODS AND MEASURES: The study team conducted qualitative interviews with AA cisgender women clients (n = 21) and their providers (n = 20) in Federally Qualified Health Centers and HIV clinics in Alabama. The research team employed directed qualitative content analysis to analyze interview data. RESULTS: Five themes emerged: a) inconsistent access to PrEP and PrEP knowledge, b) need for improving low PrEP awareness, c) managing hesitancy to prescribe or use PrEP, d) perceived HIV vulnerability and inherent stigma, and e) normalizing PrEP as part of routine sexual healthcare to increase uptake and maintenance. Interviews revealed an openness towards PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy for AA, cisgender women in Alabama. CONCLUSION: Improving PrEP uptake and maintenance among AA women in the U.S. South must go beyond increasing awareness to improving PrEP access and trust through visibility of AA women's PrEP use and incorporating PrEP education and services into routine sexual healthcare.

"Sex. Maybe We Should Do Things to be Healthy About It." Adolescent-Caregiver Discussions About Sex.

PURPOSE: Adolescents are disproportionately burdened with HIV. Numerous barriers limit adolescent pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use for HIV prevention. We explored adolescent-caregiver perspectives on discussing sexual health and PrEP to inform future caregiver interventions as a possible strategy to promote PrEP use. METHODS: We conducted separate in-depth interviews with adolescents aged 14-18 living in Alabama and their parent/guardian (caregiver). Interviews explored attitudes about sex, knowledge and attitudes about HIV prevention and PrEP, and attitudes about PrEP communication within adolescent-caregiver groups. Thematic analysis of adolescent and caregiver interviews was conducted independently and then triangulated to compare shared themes. RESULTS: Nine adolescents and seven caregivers contributed to five dyads and two triads. Adolescents had a median age of 16 years (range 14-18); five were girls (55%), and five were non-Hispanic Black (55%). Most caregivers were mothers (5, 71%), non-Hispanic Black (5, 71%), with a median age of 41 (36-56) years. All adolescents expressed willingness to involve their caregiver around PrEP use. Major themes included as follows: 1) caregiver efforts to overcome cultural taboos about sex and sexuality foster adolescents' willingness to talk with caregivers about sex; 2) evolving societal norms and reflections on their own upbringings motivate caregivers to discuss and support adolescents with sexual health; and 3) caregivers desire to engage in sexual health discussions with providers and support their teens with PrEP. DISCUSSION: As socio-cultural norms around sex evolve, adolescent-caregiver discussions about sexual health and PrEP may be an opportunity to increase PrEP use and reduce HIV infections among select adolescent sub-populations.

Social Support Assets and Needs of Underrepresented Students Participating in Health Sciences Pathways Programs in Birmingham, Alabama.

BACKGROUND: Using the Asset Bundle Model, we sought to understand the social support assets and needs of underrepresented minority (URM) high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. SETTING: Study participants were or had participated in health sciences pathway programs at Birmingham City Schools and/or the University of Alabama at Birmingham. METHODS: We took a concurrent mixed methods approach to conduct an environmental scan of health science pathway programs in the Birmingham, AL area. Four focus groups were conducted between November 2022 and January 2023, and a 225-item online survey was administered between November 4, 2022, and February 4, 2023. Both tools collected data from high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to examine key components of existing health care pathways programs for URMs and identify barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of such programs. RESULTS: Twenty-two students participated in the focus groups, and 168 individuals responded to the survey. Both focus group participants and interview respondents were primarily URMs (eg, 68.2% and 65.7% identified as Black or African American, respectively). Survey responses and focus group discussions showed that, overall, undergraduate and graduate students programs develop more robust identities as future health care professionals through friendships and institutional supports, expand their networks more broadly through mentorship, and feel more supported by family members in their academic endeavors than high school students. CONCLUSIONS: Health science pathway programs for URMs should facilitate and bolster social supports for students, especially those in high school, to enhance persistence through education and into the workforce.