Recommendations for Improving Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Implementation and Social Marketing in Ugandan Fisherfolk Communities: A Qualitative Exploration.
Laura M Bogart, William Musoke, Jimmy Mayatsa, Terry Marsh, Rose Naigino, Anchilla Banegura, Christopher Semei Mukama, Stella Allupo, Mary Odiit, Herbert Kadama, Barbara Mukasa, Rhoda K Wanyenze
Author Information
Laura M Bogart: RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA. ORCID
William Musoke: Mildmay Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
Jimmy Mayatsa: Ministry of Health, Republic of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
Terry Marsh: RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
Rose Naigino: Ministry of Health, Republic of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
HIV is hyperendemic among fisherfolk in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially around Lake Victoria, Uganda. We conducted cross-sectional semi-structured interviews about oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation with 35 Ugandan fisherfolk (15 women, 20 men) and 10 key stakeholders (healthcare providers, policymakers, community leaders). We used a directed content analysis approach based on implementation science and social marketing frameworks. Participants showed high acceptability for PrEP. Anticipated barriers among fisherfolk included stigma (due to similar medications/packaging as HIV treatment); misconceptions; mobility, competing needs, poverty, and partner conflict. Anticipated provider barriers included insufficient staffing and travel support. Recommendations included: change PrEP packaging; integrate PrEP with other services; decrease PrEP refill frequency; give transportation resources to providers; train more healthcare workers to provide PrEP to fisherfolk; and use positively framed messages to promote PrEP. Results can inform policymakers and healthcare organizations on how to overcome barriers to PrEP scale-up in most at-risk populations with poor healthcare access.
