Evaluation of the awareness, knowledge and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among the serodiscordant partners of HIV infected individuals on ART in an urban HIV clinic

• Published in: Cogent medicine Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 1475124
• Main Authors: Ishiekwene, Celestine, Thomas-Powell, Sherry, Ghitan, Monica, Kuhn-Basti, Margaret, Chapnick, Edward, Lin, Yu Shia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Cogent 01.01.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Antiretroviral drugs; Antiretroviral therapy; Disease prevention; Drug therapy; Health behavior; HIV; HIV prevention < HIV/AIDS Transmission &/or Risk; HIV/AIDS prevention education < Service Practices; HIV/AIDS Transmission &/or Risk; HIV/AIDS transmission < HIV/AIDS Transmission &/or Risk; Human immunodeficiency virus; Medical personnel; NGOs; Nongovernmental organizations; peer education < Service Practices; prevention < HIV/AIDS Transmission &/or Risk; Primary care; Prophylaxis; Sexual behavior; Sexual partners; Urban areas
• ISSN: 2331-205X; 2331-205X; 2770-7571
• DOI: 10.1080/2331205X.2018.1475124

The awareness, knowledge and acceptance of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among at risk group greatly depend on the collaborative efforts of CDC, health care workers and other government and non-governmental organizations. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the knowledge of PrEP among HIV patients and indirect assessment of the use of PrEP by their serodiscordant sexual partners. Two (4%) of the study participants whose partner(s) were at risk had discussed the use of PrEP with their partner(s) but none of their partners was on PrEP. The study revealed that awareness of PrEP may be slowly increasing but the uptake of PrEP is low. Awareness of PrEP does not translate to knowledge of PrEP. This is why there is need for health care professionals especially primary care physicians including HIV providers to incorporate PrEP counseling programs in the care of PLWHA and their families.