Addressing Disparities in Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Access: Implementing a Community-Centered Mobile PrEP...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• HIV Prevention
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is crucial for HIV prevention but faces access disparities, especially among Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM).
• The University of Miami Mobile PrEP Program addressed these disparities by offering mobile HIV prevention services in high-incidence, geographically limited areas of South Florida.
• A community-centered participatory approach guided the program's expansion into underserved neighborhoods like Liberty City, Miami.

Approach:

• Qualitative assessment of Mobile PrEP implementation factors through in-depth interviews with clients, community stakeholders, and program staff.
• Utilized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) taxonomy for thematic content analysis of perceived barriers and facilitators.
• Assessed client satisfaction, setting preferences, social factors, and likelihood of recommending Mobile PrEP services.

Key Points:

• Facilitators of PrEP access and uptake included no-cost services, convenient locations, transportation assistance, individualized patient navigation, and a community-centric care model.
• Employing staff with shared lived experiences enhanced trust and positive interactions within underserved communities.
• Pre-implementation community familiarization is vital, particularly for Black and African American communities facing unique sexual healthcare access barriers.

Conclusions:

• The Mobile PrEP intervention proved to be an acceptable and accessible method for HIV/STI preventive care.
• Emphasized the critical role of pre-implementation community engagement and preparation for successful program rollout.
• Further research is recommended to refine understanding of intervention components and evaluate implementation in other high-impact areas.