Mandy J Hill, Sarah Sapp, Shadawn McCants, Jeffrey Campbell, Akeria Taylor, Jamila K Stockman, Diane Santa Maria
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Cisgender Black women (CBW) experience 67% of new HIV diagnoses among women in the South. Progress toward ending the HIV epidemic requires researchers to explore perceptions of factors related to the decision to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among CBW. Qualitative methods were used to explore how social and structural constructs influence individual decisions to use PrEP among 20 CBW through focus groups. The thematic data analysis identified how facilitators and barriers to PrEP uptake aligned with an external locus of control (LOC) [e.g., media influences on understanding of PrEP] or an internal LOC (e.g., awareness of personal vulnerability to HIV). Several participants highlighted that their PrEP knowledge was rooted in an external LOC, such as media campaigns. A participant stated, 'But even with the commercial, it wasn't representation for me.' Another participant described her personal HIV vulnerability in her sexual relationship as an internal LOC, stating, 'Not ignorance, it's maybe just not accepting the true reality of this can be contracted even from someone that you believe that you trust.' Due to gaps in media marketing, healthcare providers should be aware that some female patients may perceive that PrEP is not for them. Provider-led sexual health discussions are urgently needed to bridge the gap between PrEP eligibility and initiation.
期刊介绍:
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) (ISSN 1660-4601) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles, critical reviews, research notes, and short communications in the interdisciplinary area of environmental health sciences and public health. It links several scientific disciplines including biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, engineering, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, oncology, pathology, pharmacology, and toxicology, in an integrated fashion, to address critical issues related to environmental quality and public health. Therefore, IJERPH focuses on the publication of scientific and technical information on the impacts of natural phenomena and anthropogenic factors on the quality of our environment, the interrelationships between environmental health and the quality of life, as well as the socio-cultural, political, economic, and legal considerations related to environmental stewardship and public health.
The 2018 IJERPH Outstanding Reviewer Award has been launched! This award acknowledge those who have generously dedicated their time to review manuscripts submitted to IJERPH. See full details at http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph/awards.