Trial reportPloS one2026
The influence of stigma on PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Johannesburg, South Africa and Mwanza, Tanzania: Qualitative findings from the EMPOWER study.
Trial report in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- The development of a conceptual framework on PrEP stigma among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2024Review
- Prevalence and Risk Factors of PrEP Use Stigma Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Johannesburg, South Africa and Mwanza, Tanzania Participating in the EMPOWER Trial.AIDS and behavior · 2022Article
- Tu'Washindi na PrEP: Working With Young Women and Service Providers to Design an Intervention for PrEP Uptake and Adherence in the Context of Gender-Based Violence.AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education · 2021Article
- Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention in Africa: Opportunities, Barriers, and Policy Priorities.Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS CareReview
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAdolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa need HIV prevention options. Stigma may impede uptake and consistent use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We sought to understand how stigma manifested and influenced decisions of AGYW participating in a PrEP demonstration trial in Johannesburg, South Africa and Mwanza, Tanzania.
methodsThis paper reports on serial qualitative in-depth interviews (IDI) with AGYW (n = 39) as well as healthcare providers and community stakeholders (n = 30) conducted during a randomized controlled trial that evaluated the effect of empowerment clubs to address harmful gender norms and stigma on PrEP persistence in AGYW aged 16-24 in South Africa and Tanzania. Analysis was thematic and inductive.
resultsStigma manifested in two main ways: HIV-related stigma and sexual behavior stigma. PrEP was often mistaken for antiretroviral therapy, and some participants taking daily PrEP reported that partners or family members thought they were living with HIV. Anticipated PrEP sexual stigma was common and linked with concerns around AGYW being perceived as promiscuous. While most participants anticipated stigma related to PrEP use, experiences of stigma were rare and did not deter AGYW from initiating PrEP. Many participants demonstrated resilience and remained confident in their decision to use PrEP and some developed strategies to avoid stigma, such as hiding pills or taking PrEP when partners or family members were not around.
conclusionsOur findings suggest that anticipated stigma is a common yet surmountable concern of AGYW initiating PrEP in eastern and southern Africa. Future PrEP implementation should be paired with multi-level activities to reduce stigma including empowerment activities for adolescents, strategies to reduce negative attitudes among health care providers and community-wide education to raise awareness and position PrEP as a responsible choice for young people to protect their health.
trial registrationPan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR202006754762723.
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