Implementation of an HIV Prevention Intervention at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions

Black Americans and the Southern United States are disproportionately represented in the HIV epidemic. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), often located in communities that have been historically underserved, are uniquely positioned to implement HIV prevention interventions focused on Black young adults. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a qualitative study, using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) model as a guide, to identify the barriers and facilitators to implementing an HIV intervention pre- and post-implementation. Pre-implementation key informant interviews with administrators, faculty, and staff, alongside focus groups with students, highlighted several themes as potential influencers on intervention rollout. These included perceived need, campus health resources, cost, personnel availability, student priorities, HIV-related stigma, and institutional culture. Post-implementation interviews with campus liaisons further revealed themes including institutional culture, external partnerships, internal communication, student health resource accessibility, and peer educator recruitment and retention. These findings underscore the complexities of implementing public health interventions in academic settings and may guide future efforts at HBCUs and PBIs to effectively address HIV prevention.