Religious leaders’ role in pregnant and breastfeeding women’s decision making and willingness to use biomedical HIV prevention strategies: a multi-country analysis

Abstract

Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is an established option, and the dapivirine vaginal ring is emerging as a promising strategy for HIV prevention option for women. Because of this, understanding the contextual and cultural factors that will support the increased uptake of these products is crucial. In sub-Saharan Africa, religious leaders may be important stakeholders to involve in product information, education and roll-out. We conducted a sub-analysis of data from 232 participants taking part in the MTN-041/MAMMA study to explore religious leaders’ involvement in pregnant and breastfeeding women’s health. Study participants viewed biomedicine and spirituality as interlinked and believed that women could seek health-related care from medical experts and turn to faith-based organisations for religious or spiritual needs. Religious leaders were invested in the health of their congregations, endorsed a variety of sexual health strategies, and were eager to learn more about emerging HIV prevention technologies. These data signal the role of religious leaders in supporting their communities, and the importance of involving religious leaders in efforts to roll out new HIV prevention products to facilitate uptake.

Keywords:

• HIV prevention
• religious leaders
• PrEP
• vaginal ring
• pregnancy

Disclosure statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The MTN-041/MAMMA study was designed and implemented by the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN). The MTN is funded by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (UM1AI068633, UM1AI068615, UM1AI106707), with co-funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Mental Health, all components of the US National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the US National Institutes of Health.