Page 133 - HIVMED_v21_i1.indb

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine
ISSN: (Online) 2078-6751, (Print) 1608-9693
Page 1 of 6 Original Research

Perspectives on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use

amongst female sex workers in Harare, Zimbabwe

Authors: Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could provide protection from human
Tinashe Mudzviti immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in sexually active persons at risk. Limited data are
1,2
Anesu Dhliwayo 1
Byrone Chingombe 3 available in Zimbabwe with regard to the perceptions about PrEP amongst female sex workers
Bernard Ngara 4 (FSWs).
Tsitsi G. Monera-Penduka
1
Charles C. Maponga 1,3,5 Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge levels of oral PrEP and the
Gene D. Morse likelihood of its use amongst FSWs.
5,6
Affiliations: Method: This was a cross-sectional study in the peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe. Human
1 School of Pharmacy, immunodeficiency virus-negative FSWs were interviewed to assess their awareness of and
University of Zimbabwe, likelihood to use PrEP. The relative importance index was used to evaluate the levels of
Harare, Zimbabwe
knowledge and the likelihood of, and barriers to, PrEP use. A set of 10 questions was designed
2 Newlands Clinic, Harare, and validated that evaluated participants’ understanding of PrEP. A bivariate logistic
Zimbabwe regression model was utilised to identify predictors of PrEP use.

3 Population Services Results: A total of 131 FSWs with a median age of 25 years (interquartile range: 21–31)
International, Harare, participated in this study. Of the 71 (54%) FSWs who had heard about PrEP, 46 (35%)
Zimbabwe participants had adequate knowledge of its use. A total of 102 (78%) participants revealed that
they would be willing to continuously use PrEP if it was provided free of cost. Increasing age
4 Department of Community of the participants was associated with an increase in the likelihood of using PrEP (r = 0.0033,
Medicine, College of Health
Sciences, University of p = 0.038). More knowledge about PrEP increased the likelihood of its use (r = 0.21, p = 0.0153).
Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe This likelihood increased amongst participants with an unprotected sexual intercourse
encounter in the preceding 3 months (r = 0.0448, p = 0.026).
5 Center for Integrated
Global Biomedical Sciences, Conclusion: Knowledge of PrEP amongst FSWs was low. To increase the uptake of PrEP, there
University at Buffalo, is a need to further sensitise FSWs about this intervention. Programmes should also promote
New York, United States awareness training in FSW subgroups that are less likely to use PrEP.

6 Translational Pharmacology Keywords: female sex workers; HIV; pre-exposure prophylaxis; barriers; Truvada.
Research Core, University
at Buffalo, New York,
United States
Background
Corresponding author: Whilst the adult prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the general population of
Tinashe Mudzviti,
1
tinashem@newlandsclinic. Zimbabwe is 15%, the prevalence in key populations is higher. In populations of female sex
org.zw workers (FSWs), the HIV prevalence in 2013 was 50% – 70% in different parts of Zimbabwe. In
2
many settings, key populations are hidden and stigmatised, and their representation in national
surveillance data is limited. It has been cited that key populations and their sex partners not only
make up the largest proportion of people living with HIV (PLWH) but also represent a significant
proportion of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa. 3

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can become a female-controlled HIV prevention method for
FSWs and others who are unable to negotiate condom use. The Ministry of Health and Child Care
(MoHCC) has developed a PrEP framework policy that prioritises access for ‘at-risk’ populations.
Groups that need to be offered PrEP include female and male sex workers; serodiscordant couples,
that is, the HIV seronegative partner; adolescent girls and young women; pregnant women in
relationships with men of unknown status and high-risk men, for example, men who have sex
with men (MSM); prisoners; long-distance truck drivers; and transgender people. A fixed-dose
4
regimen of either Tenofovir 300 mg and Emtricitabine 200 mg (TDF/FTC) or Tenofovir 300 mg
Read online: and Lamivudine 300 mg (TDF/3TC) has been recommended for once-daily oral administration
Read online:
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code with your
code with your Dates: Received: 22 Oct. 2019|Accepted: 11 Jan. 2020|Published: 19 Feb. 2020
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mobile device How to cite this article: Mudzviti T, Dhliwayo A, Chingombe B, et al. Perspectives on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis use amongst female sex
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workers in Harare, Zimbabwe . S Afr J HIV Med. 2020;21(1), a1039. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v21i1.1039
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Copyright: © 2020. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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