# Implementation of PrEP for Women Who Inject Drugs through Practice Facilitation in Primary and Reproductive Health Care

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $182,596

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: The goal of this research is to prevent HIV among women who inject
drugs (WWID) through organization-level change in the way pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is delivered to
this population. Dr. Starbird is proposing a research and career development plan which will prepare her to
independently evaluate system-level interventions to improve care delivery to WWID with high capacity for
implementation. WWID are among the most vulnerable to acquiring HIV due to the dual effects of both unsafe
injecting and sexual practices. PrEP is effective and recommended to prevent HIV infection among high-risk
groups, including WWID. However, PrEP uptake among WWID is lagging – 92% of people who receive PrEP
in New York State are men. Interventions at the organizational level present an opportunity to improve PrEP
delivery and decrease gender disparities among people who inject drugs, particularly in primary and
reproductive healthcare settings which can engage WWID in ongoing PrEP use when they present for
comorbidity management, psychosocial services, or pregnancy support. Including PrEP for WWID in often
under-resourced and stretched primary and reproductive healthcare settings poses organizational challenges
that may be eliminated with Practice Facilitation. Practice Facilitation is an evidence-based strategy to support
clinics' abilities to implement an intervention such as PrEP through technical assistance, logistical support, and
external partnership building. This study will leverage NIDA's investment in the HEALing Communities Study in
New York State (UM1 DA049415, PI: El-Bassel, primary mentor) to achieve the following specific aims: 1)
explore the opinions of WWID about how PrEP is delivered to them, 2) examine the provider- and organization-
level barriers and facilitators to delivering PrEP to WWID, and 3) adapt and pilot test the feasibility and
acceptability of Practice Facilitation to improve PrEP delivery to WWID in primary and reproductive healthcare
settings. We hypothesize that PrEP Practice Facilitation will be feasible and acceptable to primary and
reproductive healthcare organizations and demonstrate potential to increase the proportion of WWID who
receive a prescription for PrEP. Dr. Starbird has contributed to understanding the efficacy, effectiveness, and
economic implications of interventions for individuals with substance use disorder, HIV, and hepatitis C. This
Mentored Research Scientist Development Award builds on this experience and extends it with training in four
key skills: 1) advanced qualitative analysis, 2) organizational behavior change, 3) implementation science, and
4) ethical conduct of research with vulnerable women. The proposed K01 will provide training, mentorship, and
research experience that will serve as the foundation for Dr. Starbird's career as an independent investigator
dedicated to improving healthcare delivery for marginalized populations. This project is well-aligned with the
strat...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10844367
- **Project number:** 5K01DA051348-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Laura Starbird
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $182,596
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-06-15 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10844367

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10844367, Implementation of PrEP for Women Who Inject Drugs through Practice Facilitation in Primary and Reproductive Health Care (5K01DA051348-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10844367. Licensed CC0.

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