# Tcher, Take Charge: Increasing PrEP Awareness, Uptake, and Adherence Through Health Care Empowerment and Addressing Social Determinants of Health Among Racially Diverse Trans Women in the Deep South

> **NIH NIH R01** · PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION ENTERPRISES · 2023 · $654,748

## Abstract

Abstract
Trans women are highly underserved in the response to HIV, especially in the deep south. Southern states are
disproportionately impacted by HIV. Among states in the deep south, which face the vast majority of new HIV infections,
HIV diagnosis rates in Louisiana were second only to Georgia. In New Orleans, our team conducted the first population-
base HIV surveillance study of trans women and 46% tested positive for HIV. These findings are consistent with the most
recent Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) STD/HIV annual report in 2018 that identified Black gay/bisexual men and
transgender women as bearing the largest burden of HIV of any population in Louisiana. Despite the impact of HIV on
trans women in New Orleans, no evidence-based PrEP interventions or efforts are underway to meet community needs. In
response to RFA-MH-21-151 Strengthening HIV Prevention Efforts for Women in the Southern U.S., our team proposes
to test the T'Cher, Take Charge intervention to increase PrEP awareness, uptake, and adherence among trans women in
New Orleans. T'Cher builds off the work conducted to inform and implement the first population-based study of trans
women in 2019 with the adaptation of two evidence-based interventions for trans women recently completed by
investigators. The intervention will include a social media campaign to increase PrEP awareness among trans women. It
will also include peer navigation to build trust among trans people and provide PrEP navigation. We will tailor the peer
navigation model from the Stay Study to be implemented digitally and enhanced using Health eNav methods. Namely, we
will also use motivational interviewing and EMAs to increase health care empowerment and address social determinants
of health barriers to PrEP uptake and adherence. We will recruit 200 trans women to participate in our study using
methods proven successful in our prior HIV research with trans women. Trans women will be engaged in the intervention
for 12 months, providing enough time to address barriers to PrEP and support adherence. The goals of this proposed
T'Cher, Take Charge intervention are: (1) To develop, implement and measure the impact of a T'Cher, Take Charge
social media campaign on PrEP awareness among trans women in New Orleans, LA using a population-based sample of
trans women; (2) To test the impact of the T'Cher, Take Charge digital mHealth peer navigation model on increasing
PrEP uptake and adherence among trans women in New Orleans, LA, using a randomized stepped wedge cross-over study
design; and, (3) To assess changes in health care empowerment and support for social determinants of health as mediating
factors in PrEP uptake and adherence. Our goal is to used lessons learned to adapt promising trans-specific HIV
interventions to meet the HIV prevention needs of trans women in New Orleans, Louisiana. With evidence of
effectiveness, we are prepared to test the intervention at scale throughout Louisiana to strengthen PrEP acc...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10909714
- **Project number:** 7R01MH128049-03
- **Recipient organization:** PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION ENTERPRISES
- **Principal Investigator:** Erin Catherine Meek
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $654,748
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2021-09-17 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10909714

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10909714, Tcher, Take Charge: Increasing PrEP Awareness, Uptake, and Adherence Through Health Care Empowerment and Addressing Social Determinants of Health Among Racially Diverse Trans Women in the Deep South (7R01MH128049-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10909714. Licensed CC0.

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