# Linking Criminal Justice-Involved Individuals to HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis: A Qualitative Analysis of Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives

## TL;DR

This study explores why people in jail aren't getting HIV prevention medicine and what could help change that.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into stakeholder perspectives on barriers and facilitators to PrEP for justice-involved individuals.

## Key findings

- Barriers to PrEP linkage include limited provider knowledge, stigma, and mistrust.
- Facilitators include partnerships with community organizations and cultural competency training.
- Future research should adapt strategies to meet the needs of justice-involved populations.

## Abstract

Although incarcerated individuals are at disproportionately higher HIV risk compared to the general US population, few jails offer linkage to preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We explored stakeholder perspectives about barriers and facilitators to PrEP for justice-involved individuals.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three stakeholder groups in Dallas County, Texas: justice-involved individuals (n = 8), County Jail staff (n = 9), and employees of local community organizations that provide PrEP services (n = 9). Transcripts were analyzed using a combined deductive and inductive approach.

Barriers to PrEP linkage included: limited provider knowledge of and capacity for PrEP care, stigma around incarceration and PrEP, and mistrust in healthcare and criminal justice systems among justice-involved individuals. Perceived facilitators included addressing competing priorities, partnering with community organizations, and providers' cultural competency training.

Future research should focus on adapting successful implementation strategies to the needs of justice-involved populations to improve HIV prevention and health outcomes in high-burden regions like the Southern USA.