Developing mHealth to Promote PrEP Use Among Thai Young Vulnerable Adolescents and Emerging Adults

The main aim of this study is to develop technology-based interventions to improve HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and adherence among Thai young transgender women.

Aim 1: Transgender women participants Inclusion Criteria: * Age 16-29 years old * Male sex at birth * Self-identifies as woman or transgender women or culturally identifies with the female spectrum * Confirmed HIV-negative status * Self-reported recent history of condomless sex in the past 6 months * Able to understand, read and speak Thai * Either having not started PrEP (Group 1: PrEP naive), currently on PrEP but not adherent to PrEP (taking ≤3 pills/week) in the past month (Group 2: PrEP users) or currently on PrEP with good adherence (Group 3: PrEP users with good adherence). Exclusion Criteria: * Have a serious cognitive or psychiatric problem that would compromise ability to provide informed consent * Have active suicidal ideation or major mental illness (e.g., untreated psychosis or mania) at the time of interview (patients will be referred for treatment) * Laboratory or clinical findings that would preclude PrEP initiation (e.g., decreased creatinine clearance) Healthcare providers Inclusion Criteria: * Have at least 1-year experience working with HIV-negative transgender women, including providing PrEP prescription and counseling Exclusion Criteria: * None Aim 2: Inclusion Criteria: * Age 16-29 years old * Male sex at birth * Self-identifies as woman or transgender women or culturally identifies with the female spectrum * Confirmed HIV-negative status * Self-reported recent history of condomless sex in the past 6 months * Able to understand, read and speak Thai * Either having not started PrEP (Group 1: PrEP naive), currently on PrEP but not adherent to PrEP (taking ≤3 pills/week) in the past month (Group 2: PrEP users). Exclusion Criteria: * Have a serious cognitive or psychiatric problem that would compromise ability to provide informed consent * Have active suicidal ideation or major mental illness (e.g., untreated psychosis or mania) at the time of interview (patients will be referred for treatment) * Laboratory or clinical findings that would preclude PrEP initiation (e.g., decreased creatinine clearance) * Currently enrolled in another HIV intervention study