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Commission discusses PrEP access and stigma among Black women; data to be circulated
Summary
Commissioners explored barriers to PrEP use among Black women, including stigma in church settings, privacy concerns, and linkage-to-care challenges for self-testing kits; LDH’s telePrEP program reported drop-off after initial use and Dr. Samuel H. Burgess will circulate preliminary 2023 Louisiana data.
Commissioners discussed HIV prevention strategies focused on Black women, highlighting concerns about stigma, privacy and retention in preventive care.
Members noted that stigma in church settings discourages some Black women from seeking PrEP, and that privacy concerns around testing and prescriptions can impede uptake. Staff and program representatives reported that LDH’s (SHHP) telePrEP program observes a pattern of patients seeking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), starting PrEP for a short period, and then dropping out of care. Commissioners discussed outreach channels including sororities, student populations and faith-based strategies; the HEROES program is developing church-focused stigma-reduction work. Dr. Samuel H. Burgess said he will circulate preliminary 2023 Louisiana data to inform planning.
Why it matters: Black women are a demographic group for whom targeted prevention and linkage-to-care strategies can change local HIV transmission dynamics; commissioners emphasized privacy and trusted community access points as priorities.
Next steps: The commission rescheduled the agenda presentation on HIV prevention in Black women for September and requested the circulation of the 2023 data.
