Young women’s lived experiences of using PrEP in Namibia: A qualitative phenomenological study
Background: Young women are more likely to acquire Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) than other population groups. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is using antiretroviral medicines by HIV-negative individuals before HIV exposure to avert HIV infection. Various conditions may influence women’s decis...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139122000889 |
| _version_ | 1811314888999436288 |
|---|---|
| author | E.K. Vasco T. Crowley |
| author_facet | E.K. Vasco T. Crowley |
| author_sort | E.K. Vasco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Young women are more likely to acquire Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) than other population groups. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is using antiretroviral medicines by HIV-negative individuals before HIV exposure to avert HIV infection. Various conditions may influence women’s decisions to initiate and continue PrEP. Objective: This study aimed to explore young women’s lived experiences using PrEP in the Rundu district, Namibia. Method: Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with nine young women between 21 and 24 years who had experience of current or previous use of PrEP and attended at least one follow-up visit after commencing PrEP. Colaizzi’s seven-step process of qualitative data analysis was used to analyse data. Findings: Young women were aware of their risk of acquiring HIV, prompting them to use PrEP. These risks included a lack of awareness of their partner’s HIV status, a lack of trust in their partners, or being in a sexual relationship with a partner living with HIV. Awareness also emanated from information provided by healthcare workers, peers and the media. Using PrEP empowered young women for self-care by enabling them to make choices about managing their risk. Some women persisted using PrEP despite several challenges, including the lack of privacy, stigma and inadequate support. Conclusion: PrEP is an empowering HIV prevention strategy for young women; however, much still needs to be done to promote young women’s willingness to initiate and continue PrEP. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:20:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f11ff083432343e39818c1f4db5d75ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-1391 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:20:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-f11ff083432343e39818c1f4db5d75ad2022-12-22T02:48:50ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences2214-13912022-01-0117100481Young women’s lived experiences of using PrEP in Namibia: A qualitative phenomenological studyE.K. Vasco0T. Crowley1Stellenbosch University, South Africa, P.O.BOX 1162, Rundu, Namibia; Corresponding author.University of the Western Cape, 14 Blanckenberg Street, Belville 7535, South AfricaBackground: Young women are more likely to acquire Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) than other population groups. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is using antiretroviral medicines by HIV-negative individuals before HIV exposure to avert HIV infection. Various conditions may influence women’s decisions to initiate and continue PrEP. Objective: This study aimed to explore young women’s lived experiences using PrEP in the Rundu district, Namibia. Method: Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with nine young women between 21 and 24 years who had experience of current or previous use of PrEP and attended at least one follow-up visit after commencing PrEP. Colaizzi’s seven-step process of qualitative data analysis was used to analyse data. Findings: Young women were aware of their risk of acquiring HIV, prompting them to use PrEP. These risks included a lack of awareness of their partner’s HIV status, a lack of trust in their partners, or being in a sexual relationship with a partner living with HIV. Awareness also emanated from information provided by healthcare workers, peers and the media. Using PrEP empowered young women for self-care by enabling them to make choices about managing their risk. Some women persisted using PrEP despite several challenges, including the lack of privacy, stigma and inadequate support. Conclusion: PrEP is an empowering HIV prevention strategy for young women; however, much still needs to be done to promote young women’s willingness to initiate and continue PrEP.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139122000889Human Immunodeficiency VirusHIV preventionLived experiencesPre-exposure prophylaxisYoung women |
| spellingShingle | E.K. Vasco T. Crowley Young women’s lived experiences of using PrEP in Namibia: A qualitative phenomenological study International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV prevention Lived experiences Pre-exposure prophylaxis Young women |
| title | Young women’s lived experiences of using PrEP in Namibia: A qualitative phenomenological study |
| title_full | Young women’s lived experiences of using PrEP in Namibia: A qualitative phenomenological study |
| title_fullStr | Young women’s lived experiences of using PrEP in Namibia: A qualitative phenomenological study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Young women’s lived experiences of using PrEP in Namibia: A qualitative phenomenological study |
| title_short | Young women’s lived experiences of using PrEP in Namibia: A qualitative phenomenological study |
| title_sort | young women s lived experiences of using prep in namibia a qualitative phenomenological study |
| topic | Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV prevention Lived experiences Pre-exposure prophylaxis Young women |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139122000889 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ekvasco youngwomenslivedexperiencesofusingprepinnamibiaaqualitativephenomenologicalstudy AT tcrowley youngwomenslivedexperiencesofusingprepinnamibiaaqualitativephenomenologicalstudy |