Abstract
Purpose: To understand persisting knowledge gaps among providers in Maryland regarding HIV prevention for minors and evaluate the providers’ comfort and likelihood of prescribing oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and their perceived barriers and facilitating factors to prescribing PrEP. Methods: Between January 2021 and June 2021, we conducted semistructured, audio-recorded interviews of 18 community health clinicians who provide care to adolescents in Maryland. This qualitative study was well suited as a case study. The theories that served as the primary orienting lens for this research were the theory of planned behavior, and the diffusion of innovation. Results: A total of 18 providers participated in the study. Nine main themes emerged. While reasonable knowledge was noted among most participants regarding the concepts of PrEP, only half (50%) were knowledgeable about the Maryland Minor Consent Law (MMCL) for HIV prevention treatment. In addition, the providers had dissimilar experiences in the prescription of PrEP. Conclusion: Most of the participants were knowledgeable about PrEP, and many were also experienced in prescribing PrEP to eligible adults. Several provider-level barriers to prescribing PrEP were reported. Consequently, the implementation of PrEP in HIV clinics may be challenging without failing to address HIV providers’ concerns.
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