Effectiveness of health communicators advocating the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) among men having sex with men (MSM) in Windhoek, Namibia

Abstract

This study assesses the effectiveness of caseworkers working with the Society of Family Health Namibia (SFH-Namibia) as health communicators in advocating the use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM). The study assessed the outreach’s effectiveness in diffusing information about a medicinal product with HIV-preventative qualities, with urgency for its adoption among HIV-negative men who have sex with men because they are at a high risk of contracting HIV-AIDS. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 respondents, of whom six were MSM, and six were caseworkers from SFH-Namibia. An additional 14 MSM respondents participated in a focus group discussion whose purpose was to record an honest exchange of views among MSM themselves on PrEP and its promotion. The general findings were that PrEP is winning cautious acceptance, with most adoptions influenced by the interventions of the SFH caseworkers, but others also benefitting after peer counselling from other MSM, mediated by channels such as WhatsApp. The importance of peer counselling among MSM especially using new media technology was a notable finding.