Table III:

Exemplar Quotes of Barriers and Facilitators

BARRIERS
Stigma	“I used to be like, oh, why am I taking a pill every day? People would look at me like, that guy have HIV, if I take this pill.” (Suboptimal adherence)
Health Systems	“I think the biggest thing that made me stop taking it for a period of time was my pharmacy wasn’t having it.” (Suboptimal adherence)
Perceived Adverse Effects	“I was just scared about the side effects of, okay, I don’t need this pill. I’m taking it to prevent something. What is this doing to my body long term?” (Suboptimal adherence)
Competing Stressor	“Thinking about paying the next bill or the next event happening in my life … This wasn’t necessarily in my top ten priorities when it should have been.” (Suboptimal adherence)
Risk Perception	“If I’m not having sex at that time, I’m like…it’s okay you missed it, whatever.” (Suboptimal adherence)
FACILITATORS
Social Support	“We got this system where … we all take it around the same time… So it’s like, well, I know I took mine, you take yours.” (Suboptimal adherence)
Health Systems	“[The adherence counselor] has been very instrumental in making sure that I stay on PrEP.” (Suboptimal adherence)
Reminders	“I use an app…It notifies me at the same time every …It’s really, really helpful for me.” (Optimal adherence)
Risk Perception	“At first when I was taking my PrEP… before [my partner] was diagnosed with HIV, I wasn’t taking it every single day… But now that he is, I do try to stay on a constant basis with it.” (Optimal adherence)
Personal Agency	“One thing that’s kept me motivated was that I like the feeling that I’m in control of my HIV status. And I would just like to keep it that way.” (Optimal adherence)