Tailored combination prevention packages and PrEP for young key populations

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• HIV Prevention Research

Background:

• Young key populations (men who have sex with men, transgender persons, sex workers, people who inject drugs) are disproportionately affected by HIV.
• Marginalized and criminalized status of these youth necessitates tailored HIV prevention strategies.
• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) shows promise as a key component of combination prevention for this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify challenges in HIV prevention among young key populations.
• To define essential components of a tailored combination prevention package.
• To examine the role and integration of PrEP within these packages.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review on HIV prevention strategies for young key populations.
• Focused analysis on the role of PrEP in combination prevention.
• Specific attention to individuals under 24, particularly those under 18.

Main Results:

• Combination prevention packages require scalable behavioral, structural, and biological interventions.
• Meaningful involvement of beneficiaries and contextual adaptation are vital for intervention design.
• Addressing stigma, discrimination, and facilitating access to services are critical for success.

Conclusions:

• Effective HIV prevention relies on integrated biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions.
• Facilitating an enabling environment, including decriminalization and community empowerment, is essential.
• PrEP can be highly effective for young key populations when combined with accessible health services and adherence support.