HIV prevention drug uptake is slow. Can offering choices change that?

A group of youth gathered in downtown Cape Town at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation to talk about attitudes around sex in their communities and the use of PrEP — a highly effective medicine at preventing the spread of HIV.

They work with other young people in the city to encourage them to take the medicine. But it's not easy. There’s misinformation, many are afraid of their parents finding out they’re sexually active, they have concerns about health professionals judging them, and that their sexual partners might get upset if they use it.

A lot about sex is learned on the streets, many youth don’t use condoms, and many have multiple sexual partners, they said.

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