Actor for many Vorapaxar site participants (56 , n = 97), although this factor was more common in Bondo (71 , n = 60) than in Pretoria (42 , n = 37). Overall, when responses from both sites were combined, few differences were found between the responses of participants assigned FTC/TDF and responses of participants assigned placebo (Table 3). Specifically, we did not see a difference in responses between the two groups regarding taking the study pill because they believed they were taking the active drug (59 of participants assigned FTC/TDF, n = 36; 58 of participants assigned placebo, n = 22). However, more participants assigned FTC/TDF (79 , n = 48) than assigned placebo (66 , n = 25) thought the study pill would protect them against HIV, although the difference was not significant (p = 0.17).Table 2. Reasons given during ACASI for taking the study pills in FEM-PrEP, by site, n ( ). Item To help answer question of can FTC/TDF prevent HIV Thought pills would protect against HIV Thought pills were FTC/TDF Believed had a high chance of getting HIV Thought they would treat an illness you had Other participants were taking them doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125458.t002 Bondo (n = 84) 78 (93) 66 (79) 47 (56) 60 (71) 21 (25) 6 (7) Pretoria (n = 88) 83 (94) 66 (75) 58 (66) 37 (42) 20 (23) 24 (27) Overall (n = 172) 161 (94) 132 (77) 105 (61) 97 (56) 41 (24) 30 (17)PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0125458 April 13,12 /Facilitators of Study Pill Adherence in FEM-PrEPTable 3. Reasons given during ACASI for taking the study pills in FEM-PrEP, by study arm, n ( ). Item To help answer question of can FTC/TDF prevent HIV Thought pills would protect against HIV Thought pills were FTC/TDF Believed had a high chance of getting HIV Thought they would treat an illness you had Other participants were taking them doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125458.t003 TDF/FTC(n = 61) 58 (95) 48 (79) 36 (59) 34 (56) 18 (30) 11 (18) Placebo(n = 38) 35 (92) 25 (66) 22 (58) 17 (45) 6 (16) 7 (18)DiscussionWe identified numerous facilitators that motivated or assisted participants to take the study pill, at least some of the time, during FEM-PrEP. Participants reported that they adhered primarily because of 1) personal motivations, which were HIV risk reduction and a general interest in the outcome of the research or altruism; and 2) adherence strategies, which consisted of external cues, reminders, and support, such as partner awareness, encouragement and support, or assistance; established routines and tools; and adherence counseling. Based on the findings described here, women may need several kinds of tools and approaches to facilitate their adherence to a daily pill for HIV prevention. The findings on partner engagement suggest that partners who were aware of trial participation played a role in facilitating adherence in several different ways. First, some partners actively encouraged and supported trial participation. In response, participants may have been motivated to adhere to the study pills because they had the support of their partners. Second, and often combined with the active support described above, some partners provided tangible support by regularly reminding participants to take their study pill. Third, and quite different from the first two ways in which partners supported adherence, some partners did not object to trial participation, encourage it, or SCH 530348MedChemExpress Vorapaxar interfere with it. In this situation, participants may have used partner awareness as a strategy for removing a barrier to a.Actor for many participants (56 , n = 97), although this factor was more common in Bondo (71 , n = 60) than in Pretoria (42 , n = 37). Overall, when responses from both sites were combined, few differences were found between the responses of participants assigned FTC/TDF and responses of participants assigned placebo (Table 3). Specifically, we did not see a difference in responses between the two groups regarding taking the study pill because they believed they were taking the active drug (59 of participants assigned FTC/TDF, n = 36; 58 of participants assigned placebo, n = 22). However, more participants assigned FTC/TDF (79 , n = 48) than assigned placebo (66 , n = 25) thought the study pill would protect them against HIV, although the difference was not significant (p = 0.17).Table 2. Reasons given during ACASI for taking the study pills in FEM-PrEP, by site, n ( ). Item To help answer question of can FTC/TDF prevent HIV Thought pills would protect against HIV Thought pills were FTC/TDF Believed had a high chance of getting HIV Thought they would treat an illness you had Other participants were taking them doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125458.t002 Bondo (n = 84) 78 (93) 66 (79) 47 (56) 60 (71) 21 (25) 6 (7) Pretoria (n = 88) 83 (94) 66 (75) 58 (66) 37 (42) 20 (23) 24 (27) Overall (n = 172) 161 (94) 132 (77) 105 (61) 97 (56) 41 (24) 30 (17)PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0125458 April 13,12 /Facilitators of Study Pill Adherence in FEM-PrEPTable 3. Reasons given during ACASI for taking the study pills in FEM-PrEP, by study arm, n ( ). Item To help answer question of can FTC/TDF prevent HIV Thought pills would protect against HIV Thought pills were FTC/TDF Believed had a high chance of getting HIV Thought they would treat an illness you had Other participants were taking them doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125458.t003 TDF/FTC(n = 61) 58 (95) 48 (79) 36 (59) 34 (56) 18 (30) 11 (18) Placebo(n = 38) 35 (92) 25 (66) 22 (58) 17 (45) 6 (16) 7 (18)DiscussionWe identified numerous facilitators that motivated or assisted participants to take the study pill, at least some of the time, during FEM-PrEP. Participants reported that they adhered primarily because of 1) personal motivations, which were HIV risk reduction and a general interest in the outcome of the research or altruism; and 2) adherence strategies, which consisted of external cues, reminders, and support, such as partner awareness, encouragement and support, or assistance; established routines and tools; and adherence counseling. Based on the findings described here, women may need several kinds of tools and approaches to facilitate their adherence to a daily pill for HIV prevention. The findings on partner engagement suggest that partners who were aware of trial participation played a role in facilitating adherence in several different ways. First, some partners actively encouraged and supported trial participation. In response, participants may have been motivated to adhere to the study pills because they had the support of their partners. Second, and often combined with the active support described above, some partners provided tangible support by regularly reminding participants to take their study pill. Third, and quite different from the first two ways in which partners supported adherence, some partners did not object to trial participation, encourage it, or interfere with it. In this situation, participants may have used partner awareness as a strategy for removing a barrier to a.