African journal of AIDS research : AJAR最新文献

{"title":"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health performance indicators at public health care facilities in Ekurhuleni Health District, South Africa: An interrupted time series analysis.","authors":"Podestah Surprise Mabale, Anesu Marume, Alfred Musekiwa","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2604669","DOIUrl":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2604669","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background</i>: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential health services globally, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH).<i>Aim</i>: This study examines the impact of lockdown measures on sexual and reproductive health services in Ekurhuleni Health District, South Africa.<i>Methods</i>: An interrupted time series design was utilised to analyse the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on SRH indicators in the Ekurhuleni Health District, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Monthly data (January 2018 to December 2023) from the web-District Health Information System were used. Indicators included primary health utilisation (PHC), couple-year protection (CYP), antenatal care visits (ANC), maternal mortality ratio (MMR), medical male circumcision (MC), male urethritis syndrome (MUS), female and male condom distributions, and cervical cancer screening. Descriptive statistics and segmented linear regression models were conducted using Stata version 17.<i>Results</i>: PHC utilisation declined significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown (Coef: -0.3%, 95% CI: -0.4 to -0.2) with gradual recovery after the lockdown. ANC first visits before 20 weeks decreased by 5.7% during lockdown (Coef: -5.7%, 95%CI: - 2.8 to -8.5). Cervical cancer screening coverage significantly declined during lockdown with no recovery afterwards (Coef: -29.4%, 95% CI: -37.4 to -21.3). In contrast to these declining trends, the CYP rate remained stable and increased significantly by 18.2% during lockdown (Coef: 18.2%, 95% CI: 3.4 to 32.9). MUS declined by 3.3% during the lockdown period (Coef: -3.3%, 95% CI: -5.7 to -1.0).<i>Conclusion</i>: This study revealed a remarkable impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on sexual and reproductive health services indicators. While primary health care utilisation experienced a moderate decline and gradual recovery, other indicators, such as ANC, cervical cancer, and MUS, showed persistent negative disruptions.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":" ","pages":"30-40"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147439034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic scoping review on HIV services for males in Sub-Saharan Africa: Access, barriers, and research gaps.","authors":"Patience Manjengwa, Clarence Yah, Nozipho Musakwa, Alfred Musekiwa","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2600049","DOIUrl":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2600049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Access to HIV services among men and boys in Sub-Saharan Africa is a significant public health challenge, exacerbated by cultural norms surrounding masculinity. This scoping review systematically investigates disparities in the provision and utilisation of these services in Sub-Saharan Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework, employing a five-step process with any disputes resolved through discussion. A comprehensive search across various databases was conducted for studies published from January 2010 to October 2023. Methodological quality was assessed using PRISMA-ScR and the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool, while NVivo supported thematic content analysis. EndNote and Rayyan software facilitated reference management and study screening.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 1 489 studies retrieved, 30 met the inclusion criteria, primarily qualitative (70%) and quantitative (16.7%). Most studies originated from South Africa (<i>n</i> = 10) and Uganda (<i>n</i> = 5). HIV testing services accounted for 36.7% of the studies, followed by treatment services (26.7%) and prevention services (20%). Facilitators of access included community health services and male catch-up plans. Barriers to accessing HIV services included stigma, masculinity norms, and fear of HIV-positive results, with low-risk perception also frequently noted. Male engagement strategies emerged as key to improving service delivery and utilisation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings revealed a moderate body of literature on HIV services for men in Sub-Saharan Africa, with research concentrated in South Africa and Uganda. Stigma, masculinity norms, and fear of HIV-positive results remain significant barriers, while community health services and male catch-up plans facilitate access. Implementing male engagement strategies and addressing these barriers is essential for improving service delivery, informing policy, and prioritising future research in underrepresented regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147286970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hidden no more: A fifteen-year epidemiological assessment of HIV/AIDS in Libya and the urgent need for national action.","authors":"Hamza Saad","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2599276","DOIUrl":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2599276","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background</i>: In Libya, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has worsened over the past 10 years because of political instability, dilapidated health infrastructure, social stigma, and limited access to testing and treatment. While public health has a growing interest in addressing HIV issues, there is limited and uncoordinated national-level research on HIV in Libya.<i>Objective</i>: This study aimed to analyse trends and risk factors of HIV/AIDS in Libya from 2011 to 2025.Methods: This study utilised a retrospective descriptive epidemiological design to describe HIV/AIDS trends in Libya over 15 years (2011-2025). Data were obtained from national health records, the World Health Organization, Libyan public reports, and UNAIDS. Variables of interest included incidence, prevalence, sex, age, geographic distributions, modes of transmission, and displacement status.<i>Results</i>: By 2025, an estimated 8 200 people will be living with HIV in Libya. Males made up 77.3% of confirmed cases, injection drug use was the most common transmission route at 45.2%, and the impacts were primarily in the 30 to 39-year age group. Displaced populations made up 34% of the cases. The large increase in cases was preceded by a government indication program for testing, and cases were then identified that had previously gone undiagnosed.<i>Conclusions</i>: While the patterns of HIV spread in Libya are alarming, we recommend an urgent scale-up of interventions similar to those in Rwanda. Mobile testing units, harm reduction programs, peer outreach, and community-based anti-stigma programs in high-risk communities all require immediate scale-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":" ","pages":"22-29"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146183992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HIVST in the presence of a partner among fishermen in Western Kenya: A qualitative study.","authors":"Peter Abade, Phoebe Olugo, Sarah A Gutin, Holly Nishimura, Jayne Lewis-Kulzer, Marguerite Thorp, Benard Ayieko, Lennah Oluoch, David Angawa, Carol S Camlin, Zachary A Kwena","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2026.2651080","DOIUrl":"10.2989/16085906.2026.2651080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>HIV self-testing (HIVST) enables individuals to test privately and can serve as an important tool to mitigate stigma and fear of HIV testing and unintended disclosure, especially among men, who have lower voluntary testing rates than women.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>Within an intervention study involving distribution of HIVST kits by fishermen to their peers [NCT04772469], we explore the experiences and the motivations of men who chose to self-test for HIV in the presence of their female partners.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We conducted in-depth interviews (<i>n</i> = 32) with fishermen from three fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Kenya. Interviews were conducted at three months post-intervention and explored fishermen's experiences with HIVST and the context under which they tested. Interviews were analysed using a framework analysis approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Though they were not prompted by the study to do so, 17 participants described testing for HIV at home in the presence of partners. Fishermen who used HIVST kits in front of partners expressed feelings of comfort and closeness, felt the experience strengthened their relationships, helped garner partner support, and facilitated partner disclosure of their HIV status and subsequent couples' HIV testing.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Building awareness of the benefits of HIVST for promoting knowledge of HIV status, as a starting point for discussions about HIV, and to promote disclosure in relationships, may increase rates of voluntary HIV testing among men.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":" ","pages":"41-45"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13193557/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147680137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The mediating effect of individual beliefs between self-testing knowledge and HIV self-testing use.","authors":"Gerald Mukisa Nsereko, Khamisi Musanje, Loyce Kiiza Kobusingye, Martin Mabunda Baluku","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2548211","DOIUrl":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2548211","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background</i>: HIV self-testing has been introduced as a secondary mode of testing in most countries as a way of counteracting the barriers associated with the traditional clinic-based method of testing. As the entry point into the HIV care cascade, testing signifies a unique contribution in the fight to end HIV by 2030. However, in Uganda, the uptake of self-testing services remains contested, especially in low-skilled communities. Using the health beliefs model constructs of individual beliefs (perceived susceptibility, benefits, and barriers), the current study examined the effect of individual beliefs as a mediating factor between HIV self-testing knowledge and use.<i>Methods</i>: A cross-sectional survey was conducted (July to September of 2023), with a systematic and random sample of 453 unskilled workers from Darling, Wakiso district, Uganda. The data were collected using a structured, validated, self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using regression mediation analysis in Process Macro Model 4 in SPSS v27.<i>Results</i>: Perceived susceptibility (<i>β</i> = 0.06, <i>Boot 95%</i> [0.03, 0.10]) and benefits (<i>β</i> = 0.06, <i>Boot 95%</i> [0.24, 0.39]) mediated HIV self-testing knowledge and HIV self-testing use. Perceived barriers (<i>β</i> = 0.01, <i>Boot 95%</i> [0.00, 0.03]) did not mediate HIV self-testing knowledge and HIV self-testing use.<i>Conclusion</i>: In addition to delivering knowledge about self-testing, the benefits of using HIV self-testing and the susceptibility nature of individuals in low-skilled employment should be given more attention as a means to increase HIV self-testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":" ","pages":"120-127"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145202816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and knowledge gaps among healthcare providers in Egypt.","authors":"Salma M A Mansour, Rahma Mohamed, Moses Shongwe, Eman Raslan, Ahmed Cordie, Mohamed AbdAllah, Shadw Osama Helal, Kareem Essam Aiad, Salma Ghoneim, Mohamed Khaled Elshirbeny, Mohamed Gamal Ahmed, Saeed Soliman","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2577374","DOIUrl":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2577374","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background</i>: Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV) in healthcare settings are significant barriers to achieving Egypt's 95-95-95 targets and ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Misconceptions among healthcare professionals (HCPs) can negatively affect testing, treatment, and care outcomes. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of HCPs toward PLHIV at Cairo University Hospitals.<i>Methods</i>: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2021 (<i>n</i> = 344 HCPs, mean age = 31.1 years, female = 52%), including physicians, nurses, and house officers, using an online, self-administered questionnaire adapted from the UNAIDS standardised tool for measuring HIV-related stigma and discrimination. The survey covered five domains: sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, practices, and institutional policies.<i>Results</i>: Only 30.3% of participants (<i>n</i> = 104) had received HIV/AIDS training in the past year. The training received had a median training duration of 12 hours (IQR: 7-21). While 86.6% (<i>n</i> = 298) correctly identified that a healthy-looking person can have HIV, misinformation was prevalent in other areas. Furthermore, 77.3% were unaware of the \"undetectable = untransmittable\" (\"U=U\") concept. Discriminatory attitudes and stigmatising behaviour driven by illiteracy of HIV/AIDS issues were evident. More than half of the participants strongly agreed that their facility had adequate supplies and standardised procedures to reduce HIV transmission risk, and 31.4% stated that their facility lacked written guidelines to protect patients with HIV from discrimination.<i>Conclusion</i>: Persistent knowledge gaps, fear of occupational exposure, and moral judgments toward PLHIV were evident among HCP. Targeted stigma-reduction interventions through continuous professional education, enforcement of institutional anti-discrimination policies, and incorporation of HIV prevention principles into healthcare curricula are urgently needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":" ","pages":"184-196"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145598490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlates of HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis uptake among female university students in Uganda.","authors":"Ivan Segawa, Sabrina Bakeera-Kitaka, Lorraine Oriokot, Kenneth Ssebambulidde, Timothy R Muwonge, Kevin Ouma Ojiambo, Andrew Mujugira","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2555200","DOIUrl":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2555200","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Female university students engaging in high-risk sexual behaviours, such as transactional sex or unprotected sex, are eligible for HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP). This study aimed to determine the uptake and correlates of PEP and PrEP use among female students at a public university in Uganda. We conducted an online survey among 483 female students at Makerere University and found that 53% had ever engaged in sexual intercourse, with a median debut of 20 years (interquartile range 18 to 22 years). Overall, 20% had sex with a person with HIV or of unknown status, and 9% experienced sexual assault. Despite 32% being eligible for PEP and 20% for PrEP, uptake remained low (9% and 2%, respectively). PEP use was associated with being married/cohabiting and perceived HIV risk. Low uptake of PrEP and PEP among eligible female students highlights the need for targeted awareness and accessibility efforts in academic institutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":" ","pages":"197-204"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145202830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparative analysis of compliance with HIV/AIDS clinical care indicators and treatment outcomes: A case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa.","authors":"Tambwe Willy Muzumbukilwa, Riziki Ghislain Manimani, Rajesh Vikram Vagiri, Manimbulu Nlooto","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2562859","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2025.2562859","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background</i>: Significant advancements have been made in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnosis and treatment, yet progress in quality care remains limited. To address this gap, 88 quality indicators for clinical HIV/AIDS care were evaluated. This study aimed to assess and compare adherence to these quality indicators and to analyse their impact on treatment outcomes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa (SA).<i>Methods</i>: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Panzi Hospital (DRC) and King Edward VIII Hospital (SA) among adult HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) patients who began antiretroviral treatment between January 2018 and December 2022. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to assess the association between indicators and treatment outcomes.<i>Results</i>: Compliance with indicators was 65.75% in the DRC and 69.86% in SA. Multivariate analysis identified 10 indicators in DRC and four in SA linked to negative immunological responses, while eight in the DRC and seven in SA were associated with viral load suppression failure. Additionally, 12 indicators in the DRC and 14 in SA were linked to an increased risk of death.<i>Conclusion</i>: The level of compliance with the indicators was suboptimal in both countries, indicating the need for improvement. Several indicators were associated with treatment outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":"24 3-4","pages":"142-161"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145728121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feasibility, challenges, and lessons learned in implementing antiretroviral adherence club models in Northern Tanzania.","authors":"Ramadhani Abdul, Lukas Van Duffel, Giulia Martelli, Edda Ndyamukama Joel, Joyce Zacharia Misesemo, Tobias F Rinke de Wit, Sayoki Mfinanga, Anton Pozniak, Sabine Hermans","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2577800","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2025.2577800","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Introduction</i>: In Tanzania, nearly 1.6 million adults were living with HIV in 2022, with an HIV prevalence rate of 4.4%. We piloted community health worker-managed adherence clubs in two clinics in Shinyanga, Tanzania. We previously demonstrated better stability in care and improved treatment adherence following the establishment of clubs. This study evaluated referral back to the facility, feasibility, and challenges to inform potential scale-up.<i>Method</i>: The study included clubs from two clinics between July 2018 and September 2019, Ngokolo (13 clubs) and Bugisi (33 clubs), all located in the Shinyanga region. Clinicians invited stable clients to join an AC if they met eligibility criteria. Logistic regression models identified factors associated with the likelihood of clients' referral back to the facilities<i>Results</i>: The setup of the adherence clubs was feasible and successful. In one year, 46 clubs with 617 clients were established. Thirty-eight clients (6.3 %) were referred back to the clinics. Factors associated with being referred back were lower age (below 25 compared to above), having ever missed AC visits, and a rural site. Challenges included start-up problems with wrongful enrolments, the need for additional staff to facilitate the club model, the duplication of data collection tools, and the need for youth-friendly adherence clubs.<i>Conclusion</i>: Task shifting to community health workers to manage the clubs was successful. Despite its success, it required a higher level of organisation, particularly during the setup phase. These findings support the revision of the National HIV guideline to formally integrate community health worker-led adherence clubs, ensuring scalability and sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":"24 3-4","pages":"97-106"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145728156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Access to PrEP for cis and transgender women: Developing and implementing a community-based intervention adapted to populations exposed to HIV in Mali, Morocco, and Mauritius.","authors":"Mustapha Sodqi, Amal Ben Moussa, Rosemary Delabre, Rime Barrakad, Luis Sagaon Teyssier, Niloufer Khodabocus, Sofia Fathi, Fodié Diallo, Patrice Monvoisin, Bintou Keita Dembele, Annette Treebhoobun, Naoual Laaziz, Lahoucine Ouarsas, Daniela Rojas Castro, Mehdi Karkouri","doi":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2555202","DOIUrl":"10.2989/16085906.2025.2555202","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background</i>: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is recommended as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention approach, but its uptake among women, particularly those in key populations, remains limited.<i>Methods</i>: A mixed-methods community-based study was conducted in Mali, Mauritius, and Morocco to assess barriers and facilitators to PrEP implementation among cis and transgender women at high risk of HIV infection. Quantitative data collected included demographic information, awareness, willingness to use PrEP, and perceived barriers. The qualitative component included in-depth interviews with key populations, policymakers, healthcare workers, and community stakeholders to better determine the barriers to PrEP implementation and scale-up for women. Data analysis and processing were performed using software adapted to the respondent-driven sampling technique.<i>Results</i>: Between 15 February and 15 March, 2020, a survey was conducted involving 1 003 female participants. The results indicated varying levels of awareness of PrEP across different populations, with transgender women in Mauritius exhibiting the highest awareness (54%). Moreover, there was generally a high willingness to use PrEP among participants, with rates of 77% and 84% among female sex workers in Morocco and Mali, respectively, and 71% among female partners of people who inject drugs, as well as 50% among transgender women in Mauritius. Additionally, qualitative insights revealed prevailing barriers such as issues related to accessibility, stigma, and the legal frameworks in the respective countries.<i>Conclusion</i>: This study provides critical insights into the challenges and opportunities for PrEP implementation among women in Mali, Mauritius, and Morocco. The findings underscore the importance of community-based research and the need for tailored interventions to improve PrEP awareness and uptake among women, particularly those in key populations. The results may inform advocacy efforts and the provision of adapted services within comprehensive HIV prevention programs to better address the needs of these populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":520548,"journal":{"name":"African journal of AIDS research : AJAR","volume":" ","pages":"128-141"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145260489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}