South University School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, 10 Science Court, Columbia, SC, 29203, USA.
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Bamenda, Cameroon; School of Health Sciences, Meridian Global University, Southwest Region, Buea, Cameroon.
Res Social Adm Pharm. 2021 Nov;17(11):1957-1961. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.02.012. Epub 2021 Feb 14.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) helps to decrease HIV acquisition and transmission rates. The purpose of this study was to assess awareness of HIV PrEP and willingness to use it, if available, among individuals residing in Buea, Cameroon.
Residents in different communities throughout Buea, Cameroon participated in the study through survey completion with their responses assessed by age, marital status, highest level of education completed, profession, and health area (urban or rural).
421 participants completed the survey with the majority being 20-29 years of age, single, having secondary or tertiary education, residing in rural Cameroonian areas. Eighty percent of respondents had not previously heard of HIV PrEP. Ninety-five percent of the study sample expressed willingness to use HIV PrEP, if available. Participants ages 40 years old and above were less aware of HIV PrEP than those 39 years old and younger. Primary education, serving in the role of a nurse, doctor, or scientist, along with hospital affiliations were characteristics closely associated with HIV PrEP awareness. Participants younger than 20 years old were less likely to report willingness to use HIV PrEP whereas married participants found HIV PrEP to be a more favorable option.
Awareness of HIV PrEP was minimal with healthcare personnel having more familiarity. Willingness to use HIV PrEP decreased by age but higher among married participants. Further promotion of HIV PrEP and facilitating its accessibility can lead to less transmissions of HIV worldwide.
人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）暴露前预防（PrEP）有助于降低 HIV 的感染和传播率。本研究的目的是评估居住在喀麦隆布埃亚的个体对 HIV PrEP 的认知度以及在有条件的情况下使用它的意愿。
通过完成调查，喀麦隆布埃亚各地不同社区的居民参与了这项研究，其对 HIV PrEP 的认知度和使用意愿的评估标准包括年龄、婚姻状况、完成的最高教育程度、职业和健康区域（城市或农村）。
421 名参与者完成了调查，其中大多数为 20-29 岁、单身、接受过中等或高等教育、居住在喀麦隆农村地区的人。80%的受访者之前从未听说过 HIV PrEP。95%的研究样本表示，如果有 HIV PrEP，他们愿意使用。40 岁及以上的参与者对 HIV PrEP 的认知度低于 39 岁及以下的参与者。初级教育、担任护士、医生或科学家的角色以及与医院的隶属关系是与 HIV PrEP 认知度密切相关的特征。年龄小于 20 岁的参与者不太愿意报告使用 HIV PrEP 的意愿，而已婚参与者认为 HIV PrEP 是一个更有利的选择。
对 HIV PrEP 的认知度很低，医护人员对此更为熟悉。使用 HIV PrEP 的意愿随着年龄的增长而降低，但已婚参与者的意愿更高。进一步推广 HIV PrEP 并促进其可及性，可以减少全球范围内 HIV 的传播。
