An Integrative Review of PrEP Promotion Strategies at Historically Black Colleges and Universities To Reduce HIV Disparities

Deja Knight; James Gilbreath; Tiara C Willie; Jessica Corcoran

doi:10.1007/s11904-025-00764-x

An Integrative Review of PrEP Promotion Strategies at Historically Black Colleges and Universities To Reduce HIV Disparities

Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2025 Nov 10;22(1):54. doi: 10.1007/s11904-025-00764-x.

Authors

Deja Knight¹, James Gilbreath², Tiara C Willie³, Jessica Corcoran⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. dknigh12@jhu.edu.
² Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1701 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, USA.
³ Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
⁴ Family, Community, and Health Systems Department, School of Nursing, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1701 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, USA.

Abstract

Purpose of review: We searched PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and ERIC to identify peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 that discussed PrEP at HBCUs. We sought to examine PrEP research, with a focus on PrEP implementation strategies, at HBCUs. Two authors reviewed titles, abstracts, and full texts against the inclusion criteria. Six articles were included in this review.

Recent findings: Two studies focused on formative PrEP research, two on organizational readiness, and three on post-implementation outcomes. Formative research showed PrEP is acceptable to HBCU students, though barriers like stigma and side effects, along with facilitators such as personal PrEP stories, impact intention. Organizational readiness to implement PrEP varied, with resource levels affecting implementation. Despite challenges, PrEP interventions were shown to be effective at increasing PrEP knowledge and behavioral intention. There is a need to enhance PrEP implementation at HBCUs, while considering varying campus resources.

Keywords: Black; HBCUs; HIV; PrEP; Pre-exposure prophylaxis; United states.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-HIV Agents* / therapeutic use
Black or African American*
HIV Infections* / ethnology
HIV Infections* / prevention & control
Health Promotion*
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Humans
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis* / methods
Students
Universities
White

Substances

Anti-HIV Agents