Approved by the FDA in 2012, PrEP is a highly effective HIV prevention tool. Truvada as PrEP is safe for all populations, including women preconception to post-conception, even during breast/chest feeding.
HIV disproportionately affects Black cis-gender women, especially in the southern United States. Although, PrEP utilization has improved among majority groups, Black men and Black cis-gender women remain underserved.
In 2020, the rate of Black women living with HIV in the southern U.S. was 14X as high as that of white women in this region. *
In 2021, Black women in the US accounted for 54% of new HIV diagnoses, despite making up only 14% of women in the US.
*AIDS Vu and CDC ATLAS PLUS
Research demonstrates that Black women in the southern US would prefer to learn about the benefits of PrEP from their gynecologists, during routine reproductive and sexual health care visits. Gynecologists already provide primary health care services for many cis-gender women, oftentimes in place of a primary care provider, making this clinic setting ideal for integration of PrEP services tailored for Black women.
Given these inequities, we need to improve access to PrEP among Black cis-gender women.
Goals
1. Evaluate key determinants for implementation of PrEP into gynecology clinic settings through concurrent mixed-methods
2. Develop and refine a multi-component implementation strategy to integrate PrEP in routine women’s health visits (i.e., PrEP4Her)
3. Pilot PrEP4Her at the UAB GYN Continuity Clinic
Thank you for your commitment to addressing HIV health inequities!
By educating your patients about the benefits of PrEP during routine care visits, you will help make PrEP equally accessible to those who need it most.
