“Taking PrEP every day for me is a challenge”: Barriers, and facilitators to accessing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services among young people in Gauteng, South Africa

Key Points

• Uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is influenced by personal barriers and supportive environments, creating challenges for young people.
• Findings show that improving service delivery and addressing affordability can significantly enhance adherence rates.
• Analysis across various levels—individual, relational, and institutional—highlights the complexity of access to HIV prevention services.
• Multilevel strategies are essential for optimizing the implementation of PrEP among youth in Gauteng, indicating a proactive approach is required.