Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39774510›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

"They are not HIV treatments drugs; they are preventive drugs (PrEP)". Experiences of PrEP uptake among vulnerable adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania.

Magreth Thadei Mwakilasa, Alexander Mwijage, Stella Mushy, Maryam Amour, Nathanael Sirili, Evaline Maziku, Samwel Likindikoki, Emmanuel Balandya, Gideon Kwesigabo, Benson Kidenya and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

15 authors.

Magreth Thadei MwakilasaDepartment of Medical Botany, Plant Breeding and Agronomy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID 0000-0002-2649-6556
Alexander MwijageDepartment of Medical Botany, Plant Breeding and Agronomy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Stella MushyDepartment of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Maryam AmourDepartment of Community Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Nathanael SiriliDepartment of Development Studies, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID 0000-0001-5205-624X
Evaline MazikuHIV Prevention Unit, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Samwel LikindikokiDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Emmanuel BalandyaDepartment of Physiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Gideon KwesigaboDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Benson KidenyaDepartment of Microbiology, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Stephen E MshanaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Eligius LyamuyaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Blandina MmbagaFaculty of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania.
Bruno SunguyaDepartment of Community Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
John BartlettDuke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America.

Funding

To Reach the People: Transforming Health Professions Education in Tanzania (THET)R25TW011227 · FIC · MUHIMBILI UNIVERSITY/ ALLIED HLTH SCIS · PI KAAYA, EPHATA E, KWESIGABO, GIDEON PAUL · 2018 to 2022
$3.1M
FIC NIH HHS R25 TW011227
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHIV poses a significant global health concern, affecting adolescents among other populations. This is attributed to various vulnerabilities including biological factors, gender inequalities and limited access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, adolescent girls, and young women (AGYW) face double the risk of HIV infection compared to their male counterparts. The introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in early 2018 brought hope for changing the HIV cascade in the country. However, numerous challenges still hinder PrEP uptake. Therefore, this study explored experiences of PrEP uptake among vulnerable AGYW in Tanzania.

methodsThis study employed a phenomenological qualitative approach; 52 semi-structured interviews were carried out between May to November 2022 in the selected healthcare facilities in Tanzania. The study adopted inductive-deductive thematic analysis guided by the Social Ecological Model (SEM) to elicit the views of AGYW aged 15-24. Nvivo software was utilised to organise data.

resultsThis study has uplifted barriers and facilitators on PrEP uptake among AGYW in Tanzania. The barriers are categorized at individual, interpersonal, and institutional levels. The individual level barriers included pre-requisites for initiating PrEP, disbelief in the effectiveness of PrEP, interference of refill hours with working hours, financial constraints, and adherence to the pills. The interpersonal level barriers included misconceptions about PrEP pills, and labelling of PrEP users. The institutional level barriers included inadequate privacy, PrEP drug stockout, being turned away by health care facilities (HCF), long waiting times, and distance to the HCF. Facilitators included factors at individual level (experienced benefit of PrEP, adequate PrEP knowledge, having multiple partners, perceived risk due to the nature of the work, PrEP ensuring privacy), interpersonal level (support from social networks), and institutional level (Free availability of PrEP, receiving refill reminders).

conclusionsTo overcome barriers to PrEP uptake among AGYW, it is crucial to develop multi-level interventions that consider personal, social, and structural factors hindering PrEP uptake. Implementing strategies like prioritizing off-site PrEP delivery and expanding community outreach for PrEP awareness can help dispel misconceptions and enhance uptake.

Indexed as

Anti-HIV AgentsHIV InfectionsPre-Exposure ProphylaxisAdolescentFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMalePatient Acceptance of Health CareQualitative ResearchTanzaniaVulnerable PopulationsYoung AdultAnti-HIV Agents

Identifiers

PMID39774510
PMCPMC11709303

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.