Educators' perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal

Oral PrEP promotion is a key aspect of combination prevention efforts to increase opportunities for HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) who are at higher risk of infection. Research suggests that communication efforts often adopt an individualistic decision-making approach...

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Main Authors: Simamkele Bokolo, Eliza Govender
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Johannesburg 2022-08-01
Series:Communicare
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Online Access:https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jcsa/article/view/1400
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author Simamkele Bokolo
Eliza Govender
author_facet Simamkele Bokolo
Eliza Govender
author_sort Simamkele Bokolo
collection DOAJ
description Oral PrEP promotion is a key aspect of combination prevention efforts to increase opportunities for HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) who are at higher risk of infection. Research suggests that communication efforts often adopt an individualistic decision-making approach that is devoid of the multiple influences that impact young women’s HIV preventative choices. Schools and educators are increasingly being identified as key role players and influencers of decision making among young women. The promotion of PrEP uptake among AGYW of school going age, thus requires an exploration of perceptions of educators about the related benefits and barriers to PrEP uptake among school girls. A qualitative study using a purposive sampling method was used to sample 6 high schools in Vulindlela, a district with the highest HIV incidents among AGYW in KwaZulu-Natal. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of twelve Life Orientation educators and senior staff members from the 6 selected high schools. The data was transcribed and analysed thematically using the culture-centred approach. The findings suggested that educators acknowledged the benefits of PrEP in curbing HIV infection rates among young women. However, these benefits were clouded by barriers and concerns around minimal, or poor condom use as a result of oral PrEP use which could promote promiscuity and minimalise efficacy. These findings highlight the need for more contextual community-driven communication strategies around PrEP, and emphasise the value of a community-centred approach that promotes dialogue among key role players, like educators, to further enhance PrEP communication.
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spelling doaj-art-1a1a92f5f837435b9c9fdcc80cdc89c32025-01-20T08:57:10ZengUniversity of JohannesburgCommunicare0259-00692957-79502022-08-0141110.36615/jcsa.v41i1.1400Educators' perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-NatalSimamkele Bokolo0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4372-5266Eliza Govender1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0937-9438University of KwaZulu-NatalUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal Oral PrEP promotion is a key aspect of combination prevention efforts to increase opportunities for HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) who are at higher risk of infection. Research suggests that communication efforts often adopt an individualistic decision-making approach that is devoid of the multiple influences that impact young women’s HIV preventative choices. Schools and educators are increasingly being identified as key role players and influencers of decision making among young women. The promotion of PrEP uptake among AGYW of school going age, thus requires an exploration of perceptions of educators about the related benefits and barriers to PrEP uptake among school girls. A qualitative study using a purposive sampling method was used to sample 6 high schools in Vulindlela, a district with the highest HIV incidents among AGYW in KwaZulu-Natal. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of twelve Life Orientation educators and senior staff members from the 6 selected high schools. The data was transcribed and analysed thematically using the culture-centred approach. The findings suggested that educators acknowledged the benefits of PrEP in curbing HIV infection rates among young women. However, these benefits were clouded by barriers and concerns around minimal, or poor condom use as a result of oral PrEP use which could promote promiscuity and minimalise efficacy. These findings highlight the need for more contextual community-driven communication strategies around PrEP, and emphasise the value of a community-centred approach that promotes dialogue among key role players, like educators, to further enhance PrEP communication. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jcsa/article/view/1400HIV preventionPrEP communicationeducatorsperceived benefitsperceived barriers
spellingShingle Simamkele Bokolo
Eliza Govender
Educators' perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal
Communicare
HIV prevention
PrEP communication
educators
perceived benefits
perceived barriers
title Educators' perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal
title_full Educators' perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal
title_fullStr Educators' perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal
title_full_unstemmed Educators' perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal
title_short Educators' perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal
title_sort educators perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral prep uptake among adolescent girls and young women in vulindlela kwazulu natal
topic HIV prevention
PrEP communication
educators
perceived benefits
perceived barriers
url https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jcsa/article/view/1400
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