IFE4Her Formative Study Data

Summary:  View help for Summary These data were collected in the formative phase of the IFE4Her study to inform development of a community-based intervention to raise PrEP awareness among women living in public housing communities and deliver PrEP services in the community in a mobile medical unit. To develop this intervention, we conducted a community survey and focus group discussions with women living in public housing communities. This formative study was completed in 2021 and 2022.

Funding Sources:  View help for Funding Sources Gilead Sciences

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms PrEP; HIV; women; Southern United States

Sampling:  View help for Sampling Women were eligible to participate in the formative study if they met the following criteria: 18 years of age or older; identify as cisgender female (assigned female sex at birth and currently identify as female); and resided in public housing at the time of the study. Eligible women could participate in the survey, a focus group discussion (FGD), or both. Women were recruited from the community on a convenience basis and enrolled separately for each activity they participated in (survey and/or FGD). We recruited participants by tabling in public housing communities, speaking with residents face-to-face, posting flyers throughout the community, and through distribution of flyers to residents by public housing staff and study participants who shared flyers with other residents. We recruited for the survey in all public housing communities.

Data Source:  View help for Data Source Quantitative data collection
We conducted the community survey with adult women living in public housing communities from February 21, 2022 to August 31, 2022. Participants self-administered an electronic Qualtrics survey either using a study tablet or on their own device using a QR code from the recruitment flyers. To assess PrEP knowledge, women responded to single items regarding previous knowledge of PrEP and sources of information, personal experience with and knowledge of others using PrEP, and the likelihood of using PrEP in the next six months if affordable. To characterize the potential PrEP need among participants, we assessed HIV-associated factors per CDC PrEP criteria, including partner HIV status, consistent condom use, STI history, and injection drug use. To assess partner HIV status and consistency of condom use, women were asked questions regarding each of their three most recent male sexual partners in the past year. For each partner, they reported their partner’s HIV status if known, and the frequency of condom use with their partner in the most recent month they had sex (1-all of the time to 5-none of the time). For reporting, responses other than using condoms “all of the time” were coded as a report of inconsistent condom use. Women also responded to single items regarding their HIV testing history and status, number of sexual partners in the past year, their perceived likelihood of acquiring HIV in the next year (1-very unlikely to 5-very likely), and their level of concern about acquiring HIV (1-no concern at all to 5-very concerned). Participants responded to questions regarding perceived community norms regarding PrEP (anticipated approval by others) by rating statements on a five-point Likert scale (1-strongly disagree to 5-strongly agree). Items included covered all primary referent groups for social norms including romantic partners, family, friends, and community members. Participants also responded to questions regarding factors influencing PrEP interest by rating statements on a five-point Likert-type scale (1-very unimportant to 5-very important). Factors included were identified in the literature as driving PrEP interest among women and included considerations regarding cost, side effects, privacy, and daily pill burden.

Qualitative data collection
We conducted 8 focus groups in four public housing communities between December 10, 2021 and July 23, 2022. Focus group discussion(s) were conducted with between 3 to 8 participants in private meeting rooms in the community. Participants individually completed a brief sociodemographic questionnaire prior to initiating the FGD. FGDs were facilitated by a trained research staff member and a note-taker and lasted approximately two hours. Key FGD topics included: PrEP knowledge, likes and dislikes about PrEP, and perceived appropriateness of PrEP for women in the community. Following questions about PrEP knowledge, participants were shown a brief CDC video that provided basic knowledge about daily oral PrEP includinng on how it works, its efficacy, side effects, and how to get it. Focus group discussions were digitally audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis with identifying information redacted.

Collection Mode(s):  View help for Collection Mode(s) computer-assisted self interview (CASI); face-to-face interview