Challenges to PrEP use in adolescent girls young women in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

PrEP has the potential to combat HIV epidemic among Adolescent Girls Young Women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to review research focusing on AGYW experiences and challenges related to PrEP use to promote prevention programmes. The PRISMA guidelines were used to direct the search, data collection, synthesis and review. PubMed and Embase databases were searched to identify recent studies that used qualitative approaches to report on the experiences of AGYW in using PrEP. The use of PrEP was associated with a believe that AGYW were having multiple sexual partners. These misconceptions made it difficult for AGYW to disclose the use of PrEP to sexual partner and families and compelled them to conceal it. The use of PrEP enacted agency, empowerment and self-worth among AGYW. AGYW ability to exercise decision on the initiation of PrEP and adherence to the course required convenient and supportive context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]