Designing HIV prevention interventions that are acceptable to young adults in sub-Saharan Africa

Insights from a mapping review and inductive thematic analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID14645978
AuthorsOluwaseyi Dolapo Somefun (0000-0002-3842-2685, Western Cape Department of Health, corresponding author), MaryJane Ijeoma Nweje (0000-0001-7768-1957, University of Oxford), Marisa Casale (0000-0002-9258-1927, Oxford Policy Management), Genevieve Haupt Ronnie (0000-0003-3843-0404, University of Cape Town), Lucie D Cluver (0000-0002-0418-835X, University of Cape Town), Lucie Cluver, Asha George (0000-0002-5968-1424, University of the Western Cape), Elona Toska (0000-0002-3800-3173, University of Cape Town)
Year2024
Volume161
Pages107649
Publication date2024-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChildren and Youth Services Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0190-7409 • E-ISSN: 1873-7765
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107649
OpenAlexW4396620798
LanguageEN
References cited71

Understanding what young adults and other key stakeholders find acceptable for HIV prevention interventions and reasons explaining acceptability or lack thereof is crucial for intervention developers and implementers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Higher acceptability of health and social interventions can improve intervention uptake and effectiveness. This paper aims to aggregate and synthesise the evidence on the acceptability of HIV prevention interventions for young adults in SSA, published over the past twelve years. In line with PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic mapping review to identify studies assessing the acceptability of HIV prevention interventions with young adults aged 10–24 in SSA, published between 2010 and 2022. We employed descriptive syntheses to aggregate and present study characteristics, methodologies, and findings on overall intervention acceptability. An inductive thematic analysis of quantitative and qualitative findings across studies was then conducted to highlight reasons for the acceptability or unacceptability of interventions among young adults and other stakeholders. The review identified 32 studies assessing young adults’ acceptability of HIV prevention interventions. Fourteen studies also explored the acceptability of other stakeholders, such as caregivers, teachers, and healthcare workers. Overall reported acceptability was high. Of the 18 studies that provided a quantitative assessment based on the proportion of participants that found the intervention acceptable, only one study reported acceptability below 50%. The findings of the thematic analysis identified the following seven key factors shaping acceptability: ease of use; intervention understanding; intervention costs; perceived positive effects; perceived negative effects; relevance to young adults’ needs and context; and social factors shaping acceptability. The review highlights the importance of collecting and aggregating information on the acceptability of HIV prevention interventions in Africa to inform future intervention development. It also points to factors developers and implementers of HIV prevention services and programmes should consider. However, our review also exposes gaps in the literature. More research is needed to investigate the acceptability of different stakeholders beyond end-users, the acceptability of integrated interventions, and the development of more robust theoretical frameworks and measurement tools. Understanding what influences the acceptability of interventions among young people and other key individuals will better equip researchers and practitioners to meet their needs and improve opportunities for the transition to adulthood

Cartography · Family medicine · Geography · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Thematic map · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Global Maternal and Child Health · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access