“Who? What? Is that a test?” African Americans in non-metropolitan Midwest U.S. identify knowledge gaps and opportunities for PrEP for HIV prevention

Abstract

A substantive gap exists in understanding the knowledge and perception of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among African Americans overall and especially those in non-urban areas. Thus, this analysis explores these issues among heterosexual African Americans, who face high risks for acquiring HIV, in a non-metropolitan setting in the U.S. Midwest, to inform health care practitioners about increasing awareness and availability of PrEP. We used a qualitative design to explore awareness of and perspectives about PrEP in depth. After listening to a description of PrEP, participants reactions could be summarized in four themes: amazement, suspicion, disapproval, and in need of information. Three of our themes weaved together around African American's mistrust of the medical system. Recent prevention suggestions to highlight PrEP's importance for a range of people versus a strategy for particular groups only may lead to improved PrEP access if we know how to reach diverse and varied groups of people.