1. "You talk about problems until you feel free": South African adolescent girls' and young women's narratives on the value of HIV prevention peer support clubs.
- Author
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Baron, Deborah, Scorgie, Fiona, Ramskin, Lethabo, Khoza, Nomhle, Schutzman, Jennifer, Stangl, Anne, Harvey, Sheila, Delany-Moretlwe, Sinead, and EMPOWER study team
- Abstract
Background: Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women if used consistently during periods of risk. The EMPOWER study evaluated peer-based clubs incorporating an empowerment curriculum offered to adolescent girls and young women (16-24 years) in South Africa and Tanzania for adherence support.Methods: Using serial in-depth interviews (n = 33), we assessed the benefits and challenges of club attendance among 13 EMPOWER participants in the Johannesburg site who were randomised to clubs. We used a summary matrix of coded data to support a narrative, case-based analysis. Four case studies are presented.Results: Club participants reported benefits such as increased self-esteem and self-efficacy, reduced isolation, and greater insight into gender-based violence and strategies to address it. Day-to-day PrEP adherence was not the only topic discussed in clubs; participants also appreciated the safe space for sharing problems (such as relationship conflict and PrEP stigma) and found interactive exercises helpful in improving partner communication.Conclusions: Findings support the use of peer-based clubs using a structured empowerment approach, which may offer valuable PrEP initiation support to adolescent girls and young women in settings with high HIV and gender-based violence prevalence.Trial Registration: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR202006754762723 , 5 April 2020, retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
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