Optimising community pharmacy PrEP delivery for cisgender female sex workers in Uganda: Protocol for a mixed-methods study
Rattachement africain : Ouganda, us, Kenya. Niveau de preuve : code pays fourni par la source.
Le résumé fourni par la source
INTRODUCTION: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among cisgender female sex workers (FSWs), a population at disproportionately high HIV acquisition risk in Uganda, remains suboptimal. Uptake and continued use are constrained by barriers, such as limited clinical hours, long distances to access facility-based PrEP services, and high mobility among FSWs. Community pharmacies may offer a more accessible PrEP delivery model due to extended operating hours and convenient locations. This study aims to evaluate the accessibility and capacity of pharmacies in Kampala, Uganda, to serve as potential sites for PrEP delivery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a concurrent mixed-methods study combining geospatial mapping, structured surveys, a discrete choice experiment (DCE), and in-depth interviews (IDIs). First, the study will compare the reach and accessibility of PrEP services through community pharmacies versus public healthcare facilities. To highlight PrEP service reach, we will use geospatial analysis to map pharmacies, PrEP clinics, FSW hotspots (i.e., areas where sex is exchanged), and HIV incidence. We will also calculate a PrEP facility needs ratio (number of PrEP facilities/HIV incidence) for each of Kampala's administrative divisions and estimate travel distance and time to access PrEP services using cost-distance analysis. Perceived accessibility of PrEP services will be assessed through FSW surveys (n=50) and IDIs (n=20-30), guided by Levesque's framework. Then, we will evaluate pharmacy capacity via surveys (n=274) and IDIs (n=20-30), exploring infrastructure, resources, and staff perspectives, informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Additionally, a DCE will be embedded in the pharmacy survey to elicit staff preferences for delivery approaches and analysed using mixed logit models. Finally, we will integrate quantitative and qualitative findings to provide a broad assessment of whether pharmacies are suitable venues for PrEP delivery to FSWs in Kampala. Enrolment will begin by April 2026 for FSWs and July 2026 for pharmacy staff. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Infectious Diseases Institute Research Ethics Committee (IDI-REC-2025-175) and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (HS6178ES). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. We will disseminate study findings through stakeholder meetings, scientific conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.
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Le contrôle bibliographique ouvert
DOI retrouvé dans Crossref DOI retrouvé ; titre concordant.
- Titre Crossref
- Optimising community pharmacy PrEP delivery for cisgender female sex workers in Uganda: Protocol for a mixed-methods study
- Date Crossref
- 01/01/2026
- Éditeur
- BMJ
- Type
- journal-article
Ce recoupement confirme des métadonnées liées au DOI. Il ne confirme ni la méthode ni les conclusions de l’étude, et il ne compte pas comme une seconde source scientifique indépendante.
Où se fait cette recherche
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Makerere University Clinical Epidemiology Unit Makerere University, Ouganda (code pays fourni par la source)Université ou école supérieure
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University of Washington Department of Global Health pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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Fred Hutch Cancer Center pays non établi dans la noticeOrganisation à but non lucratif
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Ministry of Health AIDS/STI Control Program Kampala, Ouganda (code pays fourni par la source)Organisme public
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Infectious Diseases Institute Ouganda (code pays fourni par la source)Organisation à but non lucratif
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Ndejje University Kampala, Ouganda (code pays fourni par la source)Université ou école supérieure
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National Drug Authority Kampala, Ouganda (code pays fourni par la source)Organisme public
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African Population and Health Research Center Kenya (code pays fourni par la source)Établissement de santé
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British Council Kenya (code pays fourni par la source)Organisation à but non lucratif
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Public Health Sciences Division pays non établi dans la noticeInstitution
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Give a Hand Foundation Ouganda (pays nommé en fin d’affiliation)Organisation à but non lucratif
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African Population Health Research Council Nairobi, Kenya (pays nommé en fin d’affiliation)Institution
Clinical Epidemiology Unit — Makerere University (Makerere University, Ouganda), Department of Global Health — University of Washington et Fred Hutch Cancer Center, avec 9 autres affiliations. Pays d’affiliation : Ouganda, Kenya.
Une affiliation ne permet pas de déduire la nationalité d’un auteur.