Dr. Becky White, an infectious disease physician, has been awarded $677,000 by the NIH to adapt a program called FIT4PrEP, aimed at providing HIV prevention through pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to individuals released from prison, particularly African American women. The initiative will leverage the infrastructure of the N.C. FIT model, which uses community health workers to help formerly incarcerated individuals access medical and social services. This program specifically targets the critical transition period after release, a time when individuals, especially women, face high risks of HIV exposure due to unstable living conditions, limited access to healthcare, and substance use.
The FIT4PrEP project will collaborate with several organizations, including UNC Family Medicine, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and local community health centers. Dr. White emphasized that the post-release period is especially dangerous, with individuals facing a significantly higher risk of death from factors like drug overdose. For women, returning to environments that contributed to their drug use and criminal involvement, compounded by the challenges of finding stable employment and housing, increases the likelihood of re-engaging in behaviors that elevate their risk of HIV. By providing PrEP and support services, the program aims to reduce HIV transmission and improve the overall health and social outcomes for these vulnerable individuals.
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