From the Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Sex Transm Dis. 2021 Mar 1;48(3):189-194. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001304.
Given its high cost, governmental financing is essential for promoting HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The study investigated levels and associated factors of the general public's support toward governmental provision of free or subsidized PrEP to Chinese people at high risk of HIV.
A population-based random telephone survey was conducted among 300 residents in Hong Kong, China, from June to July, 2019. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression were performed.
The prevalence rates of supportive attitude for free and subsidized PrEP were 30.0% and 30.3%, respectively; opinions were split, as similar proportions showed oppositional attitude. Those who were older, had less education, did not have a full-time job, or reported a lower household income were less likely to support free or subsidized PrEP. Stigmatizing attitudes against homosexuals (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73-0.89) and perceived negative societal impacts of free PrEP (AOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.70-0.87) were negatively associated with the support for free PrEP. Compassion to others (AOR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21), perceived positive societal impacts of free PrEP (AOR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.43-2.44), and the belief that the positive impacts would overweigh the negative impacts (AOR, 26.97; 95% CI, 10.66-68.24) were positively associated with the support for free PrEP. Similar associations were observed for the support toward subsidized PrEP.
The Hong Kong general public's support for government financial assistance of PrEP for people at high risk of HIV was low. Preexposure prophylaxis advocacy campaigns are warranted and suggested to incorporate components that address the associated factors.
鉴于其高昂的成本，政府资金对于推广 HIV 暴露前预防（PrEP）至关重要。本研究旨在调查公众对中国高危人群免费或补贴提供 PrEP 的支持程度及其相关因素。
2019 年 6 月至 7 月，在中国香港对 300 名居民进行了一项基于人群的随机电话调查。采用描述性分析和逻辑回归进行分析。
免费和补贴 PrEP 的支持率分别为 30.0%和 30.3%；意见分歧，因为持反对意见的比例相当。年龄较大、受教育程度较低、没有全职工作或报告家庭收入较低的人不太支持免费或补贴 PrEP。对同性恋者的污名化态度（调整后的优势比 [OR]，0.81；95%置信区间 [CI]，0.73-0.89）和认为免费 PrEP 会对社会产生负面影响（调整后的 OR，0.78；95%CI，0.70-0.87）与对免费 PrEP 的支持呈负相关。对他人的同情（调整后的 OR，1.10；95%CI，1.01-1.21）、认为免费 PrEP 会对社会产生积极影响（调整后的 OR，1.86；95%CI，1.43-2.44）和相信积极影响会超过负面影响（调整后的 OR，26.97；95%CI，10.66-68.24）与对免费 PrEP 的支持呈正相关。对补贴 PrEP 的支持也存在类似的关联。
香港公众对政府为高危 HIV 人群提供 PrEP 财政援助的支持率较低。有必要开展 PrEP 倡导活动，并建议在活动中纳入解决相关因素的内容。
