By Kris H. Oliveira and Thiago Peniche
The research project “Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in South America: ethnography of experiences of access, use and management”, PrEP South America (CNPq and Decit/SECTICS/MS, process number 445070/2023-4), coordinated by Profs. Drs. André Machado and Kris Herik de Oliveira, based at the State University of Amazonas (UEA), carried out a series of important activities throughout 2024.
Meetings
Online meeting of the PrEP South America project
Throughout 2024, PrEP South America held more than thirty meetings (mostly remote) that played a central role in the planning, execution and evaluation of activities. These meetings involved fellows, communications team, general and local coordinators, as well as partners and institutions, promoting strategic alignment and strengthening regional articulations.
The meetings addressed topics such as monitoring research activities, expanding digital presence, project management and developing specific actions in different contexts. They were also essential for strengthening partnerships, consolidating cooperation networks and planning the stages of field research. These meetings contributed significantly to the advancement of the project and the integration of teams throughout the region.
Scientific communication
In the first half of this year, the project focused its efforts on creating its visual identity and presence on digital platforms. PrEP South America launched its official websiteas well as pages on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter/X and, more recently, on TikTok. These initiatives aim to expand their digital presence, promoting scientific dissemination and engaging new audiences to expand knowledge about ethnographic health research and PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy.
Events
CLAM 20 YEARS International Seminar
Between June 6 and 7, 2024, PrEP South America coordinators participated in the international seminar “CLAM 20 YEARS: memory of the formation of a field of studies in sexuality and human rights in Brazil and Latin America”, held at the Institute of Social Medicine at UERJ. The seminar provided scientific updates on the field of sexuality and meetings with the team from the southeast region present at the event.
Marco Zero Seminar
Between June 13 and 14, the project was presented at the Zero Milestone Seminar of Public Call No. 21/2023 “Transdisciplinary Studies in Public Health”, organized by CNPq and the Ministry of Health. During the event, held in Brasília, coordinator André Machado presented the objectives and strategies of PrEP South America. Participation was an opportunity to align the project's actions with public health policies and strengthen collaboration networks.
John Monteiro Anthropology Conference 2024
Between November 11 and 13, 2024, the project's research fellow Gabriela Bercht presented the work “Climate disasters and the PrEP supply situation: considerations around the flooding episode in Porto Alegre and the nature of the city's reconstruction proposals”, at the John Monteiro 2024 Anthropology Conference event at Unicamp, remotely, at WG - Survival protocols in (extra)ordinary contexts, coordinated by Kris Herik de Oliveira and Jonatan Jackson Sacramento (UFES). The work was authored by Gabriela Bercht, Fernando Seffner, Kris Herik de Oliveira and André Machado.
International Seminar “Doing Gender 13
The work “Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in South America: the state of the art of qualitative research” was presented by André Luiz Machado das Neves at the Thematic Symposium “ST 121: STIs/HIV/AIDS and sexualities: experiences, subjection and politicization” during the International Seminar “Doing Gender 13 Against the End of the World: Anti-colonialism, Anti-fascism, Climate Justice”, carried out by the Institute of Gender Studies/UFSC, from July 29 to August 2, 2024, lasting 60 hours.
Technical visits and ethical approval
Regional project coordinator Guilherme Passamani and fellow Marco Aurélio Soares on fieldwork in Bolivia and Paraguay
Technical visits to Bolivia and Paraguay
Throughout 2024, the project carried out technical visits and strategic pre-field actions that strengthened partnerships, expanded collaboration networks and boosted research on PrEP in South America. Highlights include visits to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Puerto Suárez (Bolivia); the SAE/CTA in Corumbá (MS); and the Príncipe da Paz Hospital in Puerto Quijarro (Bolivia).
In addition, the partnerships established in Bolivia and Paraguay, led by Regional Coordinator Guilherme Passamani (UFMS) and scholarship holder Marco Aurélio Soares, were essential for consolidating connections with municipal health departments and LGBTQIAP+ collectives. The project was also presented at the X Extraordinary Congress of the TLGB Collective of Bolivia in Cobija, and at the Universidad del Pacífico – Medicine, in Pedro Juan Caballero (Paraguay), strengthening its regional cooperation network and increasing its visibility in the region.
Consents with institutions responsible for the dispensation of PrEP
One of the main activities carried out by the project team in the municipalities that make up the field research concerns the process of obtaining consents from institutions responsible for the dispensation of PrEP. To this end, contacts were made with Health Secretariats, hospitals, and civil society institutions. In a coordination meeting held in person in Manaus in early December, the project was submitted for ethical consent to the University of the State of Amazonas and the CEP/CONEP System – Plataforma Brasil on 06/12/2024.
Teaching
Training program
The project held the training course “Anthropology of Health and Ethnographic Practice,” aimed at its researchers and postgraduate students, in partnership with the University of the State of Amazonas (UEA) and the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM). Taught by Professors Drs. Kris H. Oliveira and André Machado, the course included the participation of collaborating researchers from PrEP South America over the course of thirteen classes. The training gathered students from various regions of the country, covering different profiles and educational levels, providing a rich space for learning and exchange of experiences. At the end, eighteen participants successfully completed the course, solidifying the initiative as an important contribution to training in the field.
Conference with Prof. Richard Parker
In November, Prof. Dr. Richard Parker, president-director of the Brazilian Interdisciplinary AIDS Association (ABIA) and Emeritus Professor at Columbia University, led an online conference with the theme “HIV/AIDS, global health, and struggles for health justice,” expanding the debate to an international audience. The event marked the conclusion of the course "Anthropology of Health and Ethnographic Practice"taught by Professors Drs. Kris H. Oliveira and André Machado, from the Postgraduate Program in Public Health at the State University of Amazonas (UEA).
Broadcasted through the PrEP South America project channel On YouTube, the conference addressed crucial issues of health justice and the historical trajectory of global health, highlighting the central role of the response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic over the last 45 years in the creation and transformation of this system.
Click here to watch the full conference or check more details on our website.
Scientific production
PrEP databases
Throughout the year, two databases were developed to support discussions and publications within the project. The first is a database covering two decades of global scientific production on PrEP, spanning the period from 2004 to 2024. It includes references to articles, books, book chapters, essays, editorials, institutional documents, theses, and dissertations. The second focuses on content analysis of documents related to PrEP public policies in the thirteen South American countries/nations. This database presents a summary table of the institutions and individuals responsible for each document, year of availability, format, modes of access, target audience, access restrictions, among other information. Both databases will soon be made publicly available.
Ongoing scientific production
The initial scientific productions in progress address various topics related to PrEP, including scoping reviews of global literature, qualitative research and activism, as well as analyses of public policies and communication among young people. They also focus on specific contexts, such as PrEP provision during climate crises, and ethical and logistical issues in the research process.
Complementary resources
In December, the project was selected in a new public call for proposals. Call No. 34/2024 CNPq – Research on Surveillance and Prevention Actions for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Viral Hepatitis, and Endemic Mycosesa partnership between the Department of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs of the Ministry of Health – DATHI/SVSA/MS and the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Health – Decit/SECTICS/MS. The call will allow for the implementation of four new research scholarships in the CNPq’s DTI B modality, as well as complementary resources for interview transcription, field research, and publications.
General coordination assessment
In 2024, PrEP South America established itself as a robust and innovative qualitative research project, integrating scientific activities, academic training and political articulations at the regional level. The activities carried out throughout the year reaffirmed the team's commitment to coordinating PrEP for HIV prevention in South America. The strengthening of transnational collaboration networks, the training of researchers and students, the preliminary results presented at scientific events and the technical visits highlight the project's growing impact. The financial support obtained at the end of the year will allow us to move forward with new research fronts and ensure the continuity of the work over the next two years, reinforcing the role of PrEP South America at the interface between public health, scientific production and social justice.
More information:
https://prepamericadosul.uea.edu.br
Instagram: @prepamericadosul
Youtube: @prepamericadosul
Twitter/X: @prepamericasul
Tik Tok: @prepamericadosul
Facebook: PrEP América do Sul
English 
Portuguese 
Spanish