✪ Acceptability and Feasibility of Pharmacy-Based Delivery of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Kenya: A Qualitative Study of Client and Provider Perspectives

Authors:

Stephanie D. Roche, Njeri Wairimu, Peter Mogere, Kevin Kamolloh, Josephine Odoyo, Zachary A. Kwena, Elizabeth A. Bukusi, Kenneth Ngure, Jared M. Baeten, & Katrina F. Ortblad

^{University of Washington affiliated authors are displayed in bold.}

✪ Open Access

Published: April 2021

Read the full text in the open access journal AIDS and Behavior

Abstract:

As countries scale up pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, diverse PrEP delivery models are needed to expand access to populations at HIV risk that are unwilling or unable to access clinic-based PrEP care. To identify factors that may influence implementation of retail pharmacy-based PrEP delivery in Kenya, we conducted in-depth interviews with 40 pharmacy clients, 16 pharmacy providers, 16 PrEP clients, and 10 PrEP providers from two provinces. Most participants expressed strong support for expanding PrEP to retail pharmacies, though conditioned their acceptance on assurances that care would be private, respectful, safe, and affordable. Participant-reported determinants of feasibility centered primarily on ensuring that the intervention is compatible with retail pharmacy operations (e.g., staffing levels, documentation requirements). Future research is needed to develop and test tailored packages of implementation strategies that are most effective at integrating PrEP delivery into routine pharmacy practice in Kenya and other high HIV prevalence settings.

^{**This abstract is posted with permission under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License**}