Healthcare provider knowledge and attitudes about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in pregnancy in Cape Town, South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID19440369
AuthorsDvora Joseph Davey (0000-0001-6290-9293, Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, corresponding author), Jill Daniels (0000-0002-0985-5916, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science), Joseph Daniels (0009-0000-4607-9568, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behaviors, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA), Cindy Beard (Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA), Nyiko Mashele (University of Cape Town), Linda-Gail Bekker (0000-0002-0755-4386, Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa), Kathryn Dovel (0000-0002-5622-3401, University of California, Los Angeles), Jabulani Ncayiyana (0000-0002-2151-1251, University of Cape Town), Thomas J Coates (0000-0002-2470-2096, University of California, Los Angeles), Landon Myers (0000-0002-8106-7658, University of Cape Town), Landon Myer (University of Cape Town)
Year2020
Volume32
Issue10
Pages1290-1294
Publication date2020-10-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121.2020.1782328
PMID32576023
OpenAlexW3037953843
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited18

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in pregnancy can reduce HIV incidence and vertical transmission. Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a critical role in delivering PrEP in antenatal care but little is known about HCP knowledge and attitudes about PrEP in pregnancy. We conducted a qualitative study in two healthcare facilities to assess HCPs' PrEP knowledge and perspectives relating to HIV prevention in pregnant women. Between January-March'19, we administered in-depth interviews among antenatal HCPs. We utilized a constant comparison approach to identify major qualitative findings. We enrolled 35 female HCPs (median age=43yrs. Fewer than half of HCPs had heard of PrEP before. Of those who had heard of PrEP, most felt that it was safe to take during pregnancy. Most HCPs described inaccurate PrEP knowledge regarding effectiveness, and most who knew about PrEP lacked clinical detail. HCPs highlighted important potential barriers to maternal PrEP use including: fear that PrEP may be unsafe, or belief that women must talk to partners/parents before initiating PrEP. Facilitators include good knowledge about serodiscordancy and vulnerability to seroconversion in pregnancy and desire to help women gain control overHIV prevention. We recommend integrating PrEP training into HIV testing and PMTCT nurse training to improve counseling and maternal PrEP delivery

Family medicine · Health care · Men who have sex with men · Pre-exposure prophylaxis · Pregnancy · Qualitative research · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing