Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41513413›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Optimising community pharmacy PrEP delivery for cisgender female sex workers in Uganda: Protocol for a mixed-methods study.

Ivan Segawa, Katrina F Ortblad, Herbert Kadama, Diana Natukunda, Timothy R Muwonge, Eva Agnes Odongpiny Laker, Rogers Nsubuga, Sharon Akello, William James Tamale, Agnes Kiragga and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

11 authors.

Ivan SegawaClinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda ivansegy@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4535-1694
Katrina F OrtbladPublic Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Herbert KadamaAIDS/STI Control Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Diana NatukundaGive a Hand Foundation, Wakiso, Uganda.
Timothy R MuwongeInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Eva Agnes Odongpiny LakerInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Rogers NsubugaInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Sharon AkelloNdejje University, Kampala, Uganda.
William James TamaleNational Drug Authority, Kampala, Uganda.
Agnes KiraggaAfrican Population Health Research Council, Nairobi, Kenya.
Andrew MujugiraDepartment of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Funding

University of Washington/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS ResearchP30AI027757 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI CONNIE L CELUM · 1988 to 2026
$104.9M
NIAID NIH HHS P30 AI027757
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among cisgender female sex workers (FSWs), a population at disproportionately high HIV acquisition risk in Uganda, remains suboptimal. Uptake and continued use are constrained by barriers, such as limited clinical hours, long distances to access facility-based PrEP services, and high mobility among FSWs. Community pharmacies may offer a more accessible PrEP delivery model due to extended operating hours and convenient locations. This study aims to evaluate the accessibility and capacity of pharmacies in Kampala, Uganda, to serve as potential sites for PrEP delivery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a concurrent mixed-methods study combining geospatial mapping, structured surveys, a discrete choice experiment (DCE), and in-depth interviews (IDIs). First, the study will compare the reach and accessibility of PrEP services through community pharmacies versus public healthcare facilities. To highlight PrEP service reach, we will use geospatial analysis to map pharmacies, PrEP clinics, FSW hotspots (i.e., areas where sex is exchanged), and HIV incidence. We will also calculate a PrEP facility needs ratio (number of PrEP facilities/HIV incidence) for each of Kampala's administrative divisions and estimate travel distance and time to access PrEP services using cost-distance analysis. Perceived accessibility of PrEP services will be assessed through FSW surveys (n=50) and IDIs (n=20-30), guided by Levesque's framework. Then, we will evaluate pharmacy capacity via surveys (n=274) and IDIs (n=20-30), exploring infrastructure, resources, and staff perspectives, informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Additionally, a DCE will be embedded in the pharmacy survey to elicit staff preferences for delivery approaches and analysed using mixed logit models. Finally, we will integrate quantitative and qualitative findings to provide a broad assessment of whether pharmacies are suitable venues for PrEP delivery to FSWs in Kampala. Enrolment will begin by April 2026 for FSWs and July 2026 for pharmacy staff. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Infectious Diseases Institute Research Ethics Committee (IDI-REC-2025-175) and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (HS6178ES). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. We will disseminate study findings through stakeholder meetings, scientific conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.

Indexed as

Anti-HIV AgentsCommunity Pharmacy ServicesHealth Services AccessibilityHIV InfectionsPharmaciesPre-Exposure ProphylaxisSex WorkersFemaleHumansResearch DesignUgandaAnti-HIV AgentsGeographical mappingHealth Services AccessibilityHealth SurveysHIV & AIDSQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Identifiers

PMID41513413
PMCPMC12815090

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.