Digital Interventions to Enhance PrEP Uptake and Adherence Through Stigma Reduction.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health
• HIV Prevention

Background:

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in reducing HIV transmission risk.
• Stigma remains a significant barrier to widespread PrEP adoption.
• Digital technologies offer novel avenues to overcome access barriers and enhance HIV prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current digital interventions aimed at reducing stigma associated with PrEP.
• To assess the effectiveness of these digital tools in improving PrEP-related outcomes.
• To identify challenges and future research directions for digital stigma reduction in PrEP.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of digital interventions targeting stigma in PrEP.
• Analysis of intervention formats, target populations, and reported outcomes.
• Synthesis of findings on technology effectiveness and implementation challenges.

Main Results:

• Digital interventions, particularly mobile-based technologies, show promise in addressing stigma for PrEP.
• Younger populations, including men who have sex with men and transgender women, are frequent targets.
• No single digital technology has shown consistent superiority; challenges exist in under-resourced settings.

Conclusions:

• Digital interventions are a promising strategy to combat stigma and improve PrEP uptake.
• Further research should focus on multi-level stigma reduction and integrated measurement approaches.
• Addressing stigma beyond the individual level is crucial for enhancing PrEP use in diverse communities.