Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33465090›Full record

ArticlePloS one2021

"I wish to remain HIV negative": Pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence and persistence in transgender women and men who have sex with men in coastal Kenya.

Makobu Kimani, Elise M van der Elst, Oscar Chirro, Elizabeth Wahome, Fauz Ibrahim, Nana Mukuria, Tobias F Rinke de Wit, Susan M Graham, Don Operario, Eduard J Sanders

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
30citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

30 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 43 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  6. Loss to Follow-Up and Visit Nonadherence in an HIV Incidence Cohort in Kisumu, Kenya.Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) · 2026
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  12. Participatory development of theAdvances in global health · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.

Makobu KimaniKEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kilifi, Kenya.
Elise M van der ElstKEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kilifi, Kenya.
Oscar ChirroKEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kilifi, Kenya.
Elizabeth WahomeKEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kilifi, Kenya.
Fauz IbrahimDepartment of Health, Kilifi County, Kilifi, Kenya.
Nana MukuriaKEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kilifi, Kenya.
Tobias F Rinke de WitDepartment of Global Health, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Susan M GrahamDepartment of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Don OperarioDepartment of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.
Eduard J SandersKEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kilifi, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0002-1062-8921
Kenya Medical Research Institute · KEAmsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development · NLBrown University · USMoving the GoalPosts · KEUniversity of Washington · US

Funding

Training Program for Scientists Conducting Research to Reduce HIV Health DisparitR25MH067127 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI Emily A Arnold, Torsten Brian Neilands · 2003 to 2026
$5.4M
NIMH NIH HHS R25 MH067127Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 107752/Z/15/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTransgender women (TGW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa have high HIV acquisition risks and can benefit from daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We assessed PrEP adherence by measuring tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) levels and explore motives for PrEP persistence in TGW and MSM.

methodsParticipants were enrolled in a one-year PrEP programme and made quarterly visits irrespective of whether they were still using PrEP. At their month 6 visit, participants provided a dried blood spot to test for TFV-DP levels; protective levels were defined as those compatible with ≥4 pills per week (700-1249 fmol/punch). Before TFV-DP levels were available, a sub-set of these participants were invited for an in-depth interview (IDI). Semi-structured IDI topic guides were used to explore motives to uptake, adhere to, and discontinue PrEP. IDI data were analyzed thematically.

resultsFifty-three participants (42 MSM and 11 TGW) were enrolled. At month 6, 11 (20.7%) participants (8 MSM and 3 TGW) were lost to follow up or stopped taking PrEP. Any TFV-DP was detected in 62.5% (5/8) of TGW vs. 14.7% of MSM (5/34, p = 0.01). Protective levels were detected in 37.5% of TGW (3/8), but not in any MSM. Nineteen IDI were conducted with 7 TGW and 9 MSM on PrEP, and 1 TGW and 2 MSM off PrEP. Unplanned or frequent risky sexual risk behaviour were the main motives for PrEP uptake. Among participants on PrEP, TGW had a more complete understanding of the benefits of PrEP. Inconsistent PrEP use was attributed to situational factors. Motives to discontinue PrEP included negative reactions from partners and stigmatizing healthcare services.

conclusionWhile MSM evinced greater adherence challenges in this PrEP programme, almost 40% of TGW were protected by PrEP. Given high HIV incidences in TGW these findings hold promise for TGW PrEP programming in the region.

Indexed as

Pre-Exposure ProphylaxisAdolescentAdultAnti-HIV AgentsDried Blood Spot TestingFemaleHealth Risk BehaviorsHIV InfectionsHomosexuality, MaleHumansInterviews as TopicKenyaMaleMedication AdherenceTenofovirTransgender PersonsAnti-HIV AgentsTenofovir

Identifiers

PMID33465090
PMCPMC7815127
OpenAlexW3121299015

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.