Just4Us: Acceptability & Feasibility of a Woman-focused Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Intervention: A Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• HIV Prevention

Background:

• Women, particularly women of color, represent a significant portion of new HIV infections in the U.S.
• Awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as an HIV prevention method remains low among many women.
• A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate a novel intervention for PrEP initiation and adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the Just4Us behavioral intervention.
• To promote pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation and adherence among cisgender women.
• To address disparities in HIV prevention awareness and access.

Main Methods:

• A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving cisgender women aged 18-55 not living with HIV.
• Participants were randomized to either the Just4Us Education and Activities (E&A) arm or an Information-only arm.
• The E&A arm included individually-delivered counseling, motivation enhancement, skills-building, problem-solving, and adherence support via phone and text messaging.

Main Results:

• Eighty-three diverse women were enrolled, exceeding recruitment targets, with 79% Black and 26% Latina participants.
• The intervention demonstrated high feasibility with 100% attendance for initial sessions and a 90% 3-month retention rate.
• Participants reported high satisfaction with the E&A intervention, with 95% satisfied overall and 95% recommending the program.

Conclusions:

• The Just4Us E&A intervention proved feasible and acceptable for increasing PrEP uptake in cisgender women.
• The study successfully recruited and retained socially disadvantaged women, demonstrating high fidelity implementation.
• Participant feedback indicates strong satisfaction, supporting Just4Us as a promising PrEP promotion strategy.