Acceptability, feasibility and potential of an intervention using secret Facebook groups to complement existing HIV prevention strategies among female sex workers in Cameroon, a randomized pilot study

This randomized pilot project evaluated an intervention promoting health care literacy around HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and stigma reduction using private social media groups that complemented existing HIV prevention services among female sex workers (FSWs) in Cameroon. The intervention...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIDS care 2024-04, Vol.36 (4), p.517-527
Main Authors: Vazquez Guillamet, Laia J., Babey, Mary Mah, Njah, Mercy, Blake, Hassanatu, Jasani, Amy, Kyeng, Rahel, Hao, Jiaying, Long, Dustin, Tih, Pius, Turan, Janet M., Khan, Eveline Mboh, Dionne, Jodie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceptability
Cameroon
Communications technology
Contamination
Digital media
Disease prevention
Feasibility
Feasibility Studies
Female
Female sex workers
Females
Health promotion
Health services
HIV
HIV Infections - drug therapy
HIV prevention
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Intervention
Mass media
mHealth
Pilot Projects
Pollution control
pre-exposure prophylaxis
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - methods
PrEP
Prevention
Prevention programs
Preventive medicine
Prophylaxis
Prostitution
Sex industry
Sex Workers
Sexual behavior
Sexual health
Sexually transmitted diseases
Social cohesion
Social groups
Social Media
Social networks
STD
Stigma
Technology
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Summary:This randomized pilot project evaluated an intervention promoting health care literacy around HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and stigma reduction using private social media groups that complemented existing HIV prevention services among female sex workers (FSWs) in Cameroon. The intervention was 12 HIV and sexual health videos tailored to FSWs that were released over 8 weeks through a secret Facebook group platform. In-person surveys were administered before, after the intervention, and three months later. No HIV seroconversions were detected; all participants completed follow-up and agreed to recommend the intervention to a coworker. Although the intervention was assessed to be acceptable and feasible to implement, poor internet connectivity was a key barrier. In time-series analysis, the intervention group participants reported improved PrEP interest, PrEP knowledge, and condom use along with reduced PrEP and HIV-related stigma, but no impact on sex-work related stigma or social cohesion. Similar results occurred in the control group. Cross-contamination and small pilot study size might have hindered the ability to detect the differential impact of this intervention. As communications technology increases in Cameroon, it is essential to learn more about FSWs preferences on the use of social media platforms for HIV prevention strategies.
ISSN:0954-0121
1360-0451
1360-0451
DOI:10.1080/09540121.2023.2275048