Sub-Saharan African migrants living in high income countries face challenges accessing HIV prevention and care. These barriers negatively impact the use of HIV prevention and care services. Addressing these barriers is critical to the HIV response in the countries where migrants live. Approaches to HIV prevention may include condom use, HIV self-testing and pharmacy-based access to HIV PrEP. This study, specifically, will explore the perspectives and experiences of African immigrants living in Australia on HIV self-care, including:
- To explore understanding of HIV self care among Sub-Saharan African immigrants living in Australia,
- Identify and describe barriers and enablers to HIV self-care among the Sub-Saharan African migrant community and
- To document HIV self-care preferences among the Sub-Saharan African migrant communities.
About the study
This study will involve semi structured interviews of approximately 45-60 minutes duration (including consent and demographic data collection procedures) with between 20 to 30 Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic (MSHC) attendees, using an interview guides for the following informant groups.
Who we want to talk to
Sub-Saharan African immigrants living in Australia. We anticipate that 20-30 participants will give us sufficient data to reach saturation. Data analysis will occur concurrent to recruitment so that it is clear when data is reaching the point of saturation.
What's involved
Potential participants will be phoned at a time convenient to them and asked a series of questions to confirm their eligibility to participate. A separate mutually convenient time will be arranged to complete informed consent procedures and interview via Zoom videoconferencing, phone or face-to-face at MSHC (where zoom or phone not preferred by the participant and COVID-19 infection prevention guidelines permit). Participants will be deemed lost to follow up after three attempts to contact them have been made.