Background: Black women experience one of the highest incidences of HIV yet continue to be under-prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) despite its proven effectiveness on mitigating HIV transmission. We conducted patient interviews and focus groups with Black cisgender women to explore their perceptions and preferences on PrEP education prior to adapting PrEP education for this population within eight health centers.

Methods: Interviews and focus groups were conducted virtually using a semi-structured guide exploring patients’ perspectives on PrEP education. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, and coded in Dedoose using a rapid content analysis approach focused on identifying determinants to PrEP education.

Results: Qualitative data was collected from December 2024 to February 2025 in 11 focus groups and 7 interviews with 36 Black women aged 18 to 49. Three major barriers emerged: 1) lack of awareness of PrEP; 2) misconceptions about PrEP; and 3) hesitancy to start PrEP due to medical mistrust and racism. Three major facilitators emerged: 1) receptivity to provider-initiated conversations about PrEP; 2) positive perceptions of PPIL; and 3) sexual health empowerment framing.

Conclusions: Despite identified barriers to PrEP education, Black women are overwhelmingly receptive to the idea of providers framing PrEP as sexual health empowerment. Participants who were uninterested in PrEP still reported that they would like to receive PrEP education from their provider as part of routine care. These findings will inform the adaptation of patient education for Black women at PPIL; future study is necessary to assess the impact these resulting adaptations may have on uptake of PrEP.

HIV infection rates in NYC remain high, disproportionately impacting youth of color. Despite engaging in high-risk behaviors, college students often underestimate their vulnerability, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies. This study evaluated the impact of a peer-led HIV awareness intervention on knowledge, stigma, and attitudes among college students in Queens and the Bronx, where HIV rates are disproportionately high. The intervention was delivered on two campuses of a large public university by peer educators who completed an innovative interprofessional simulation training program.

Pre- (n = 271) and post-intervention (n = 530) surveys were distributed via email to independent student samples. The average age was 22 years, with 69.2% identifying as female and 58.7% reporting being sexually active. Racial/ethnic demographics included 41.7% Latino, 28.1% Black, and 17.9% Asian.

The survey included previously validated items on HIV knowledge, attitudes, and stigma. Chi-square tests assessed pre/post differences. Pre-intervention, major knowledge gaps were identified: only 56% correctly recognized that HIV is not transmitted by mosquitoes, and 64% were unaware that vaginal secretions are a transmission route. Post-intervention, knowledge significantly improved on these items and on the misconception about oral sex (p < .05).

Marginal improvements were observed in knowledge of AIDS treatment options and attitudes toward supporting someone with HIV regardless of how they were infected. There were no significant differences in stigmatizing beliefs from pre- to post-intervention. While peer-led education effectively improved HIV knowledge, findings suggest the need to bolster anti-stigma messaging and empathy-building strategies to impact attitudes and beliefs.

Introduction: Per WHO there were approximately 8 million syphilis cases worldwide in 2022 of which > 200,000 occurred in the United States. Those disproportionately impacted by syphilis in the US include people of Native American ancestry in rural and remote areas. In 2021 our health facility in northeastern Arizona increased access to syphilis treatment via implementation of Public Health Nurse-managed field delivered therapy (FDT) of bicillin injections to those unable to access facility-based care (FBC).

Methods: We reviewed all cases of syphilis in the service unit from 2021-2023 following implementation of FDT, performing a descriptive analysis of those receiving FDT vs FBC by age, gender, syphilis stage, pregnancy status, side-effects of treatment.

Results: From 2021 through 2023 our facility had 396 cases of syphilis with 12.3 % of all cases in period treated via FDT. Those receiving FDT were older than those receiving FBC (39.2 vs 34.9 years; p=0.005) and more likely to have syphilis staged as late latent/unknown duration (chisq =21.81;df 4; p =0.0002). At least 4 (8.2%) cases receiving FDT were pregnant; none experienced adverse effects to mother or fetus. The only adverse event was a male receiving FBC returning 24 hours post-treatment with a rash of unclear etiology ( antibiotic vs Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction).

Conclusion: Field Delivered Therapy using Public Health Nurse teams is a safe option to bring the standard of care for syphilis to those in nonstandard settings. Expansion of this practice can improve treatment completion for patients with syphilis who have challenges with accessing FBC.

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Background: Primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis rates in NYC have steadily increased over the past two decades with increases among people reported as female (women) and virtually no change among people reported as male (men) in recent years. In response, the Health Department designed a project to reduce syphilis among Black and Latina cisgender women of reproductive age in the NYC neighborhoods most heavily impacted by primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis by (1) building community connections; and (2) facilitating a community-developed plan to reduce syphilis prioritizing this population.

Methods: A mixed-method formative assessment was conducted to identify community needs and assets utilizing (1) electronic surveys of community members and (2) key informant interviews with Disease Intervention Specialists and non-clinical community providers.

Twelve meetings were convened with a core group of community members to discuss recent epidemiological data, review assessment findings, and identify strategies/recommendations for the prevention of syphilis tailored to the needs of the prioritized population with the goal of drafting a syphilis reduction plan.

Findings: 186 surveys were completed, and 4 key informant interviews were conducted. Survey results indicated moderate levels of knowledge of syphilis, and perceptions of limited access to quality sexual and reproductive health services to prevent syphilis for women in their communities. Key informant interviews highlighted the need for significant provider outreach to increase their knowledge of rising syphilis rates, address bias, and enhance their skills in providing culturally responsive services to Black and Latina cisgender women for effective prevention and reduction of syphilis in NYC.