School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Rd., Dar Es Salaam 11103, Tanzania.
Viruses. 2023 Oct 20;15(10):2125. doi: 10.3390/v15102125.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevents HIV infection among female sex workers (FSW). WHO recommends the use of Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for use in oral PrEP regimens (TDF). Emtricitabine (FTC) 200 mg/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) 300 mg (Truvada) daily is the approved PrEP regimen in Tanzania. Evidence is limited on oral PrEP uptake and its associated factors in countries with a high burden of HIV, such as Tanzania. This study aimed to examine the uptake of oral PrEP and its associated factors among FSW in the Tanga region of Tanzania. This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 428 FSW. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and analysed using STATA version 17 and RDSAT. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations of independent factors and PrEP uptake among study participants. About 55% of the recruited FSW used oral PrEP. FSW with three or more children were 2.41 times more likely to take oral PrEP (AOR 2.41, 95% CI: 1.08-4.25, < 0.05). Moreover, those with a positive attitude were more likely to use oral PrEP (AOR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.88-4.17, < 0.05). Poor belief was a barrier to PrEP use, and side effects of the drugs were a reason for the discontinuation of PrEP services. Most of the participants preferred PrEP services to be provided in the community. Oral PrEP uptake was 55%. Efforts to scale up PrEP for FSW should address misconceptions regarding PrEP, PrEP sensitization, and improving access through community-based intervention.
暴露前预防（PrEP）可预防女性性工作者（FSW）感染艾滋病毒。世卫组织建议使用富马酸替诺福韦二吡呋酯用于口服 PrEP 方案（TDF）。每日服用恩曲他滨（FTC）200 毫克/富马酸替诺福韦二吡呋酯（TDF）300 毫克（Truvada）是坦桑尼亚批准的 PrEP 方案。在艾滋病毒负担沉重的国家，如坦桑尼亚，有关口服 PrEP 的采用及其相关因素的证据有限。本研究旨在检查坦桑尼亚坦噶地区 FSW 对口服 PrEP 的采用情况及其相关因素。这是一项基于社区的横断面研究，共纳入 428 名 FSW。通过面对面访谈收集数据，并使用 STATA 版本 17 和 RDSAT 进行分析。使用逻辑回归检验独立因素与研究参与者 PrEP 采用的相关性。大约 55%的被招募的 FSW 使用口服 PrEP。有三个或更多孩子的 FSW 使用口服 PrEP 的可能性是其 2.41 倍（AOR 2.41，95%CI：1.08-4.25， < 0.05）。此外，态度积极的人更有可能使用口服 PrEP（AOR 2.8，95%CI：1.88-4.17， < 0.05）。对 PrEP 的不良信念是采用 PrEP 的障碍，而药物的副作用是停止 PrEP 服务的原因。大多数参与者更喜欢在社区提供 PrEP 服务。口服 PrEP 的采用率为 55%。为 FSW 扩大 PrEP 服务应解决有关 PrEP 的误解，提高 PrEP 意识，并通过基于社区的干预措施改善获取途径。
