Download Knowledge, Attitude and Beliefs regarding PEP among MSM

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS REGARDING POSTEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PEP) AMONG SOUTH AFRICAN
MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM)
1
JM ,
Hugo
Stall
McIntyre JA 1,4
2
RD ,
Rebe
1,3
K ,
De Swardt
1
G,
Struthers
1
H,
1. Anova Health Institute, Health4Men, South Africa.
2. University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, USA.
3. Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
4. School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
BACKGROUND
Figure 1: Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding PEP among South African MSM
South Africa has been faced with an explosive HIV
epidemic that has reached extraordinarily high
rates among MSM1. Behavioral interventions are
necessary but insufficient to stop new HIV
infections. Consistent condom use among MSM
remains low and there is a need for new
mechanisms to reduce the incidence of new HIV
infections2.
31 (15.3%) Used PEP We initiated a cross-sectional, internet-based
survey to measure the knowledge, attitudes and
beliefs regarding PEP among South African MSM.
This survey provided the opportunity to reach a
wide variety of MSM and explore differences in
the demographics of MSM in SA regarding
knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about PEP.
The survey provided information about MSM’s
sexual risk and allowed an assessment of the
potential market for PEP in the MSM community.
Hosting this survey online assisted in ensuring
anonymity and, hopefully, more truthful answers.
The survey will continue sampling until there are
1000 completed surveys.
16 (51.6%) PEP from Obtained GP 202 (66.9%) Had prev knowledge 28/31 (90.3%) Completed prescribed course 302 completed surveys There is global recognition of the importance of
combination prevention interventions which draw
upon social sciences, community experiences and
the biomedical field to identify and respond to the
specific, dynamic prevention needs of MSM3,4.
Biomedical prevention of HIV offers a variety of
prevention tools, including Post-Exposure
Prophylaxis (PEP).
METHODS
Abstract #143
6 (19.4%) Obtained from Health4Men 9 (29%) Obtained from Other FaciliLtes 100 (33.1%) Had no prev knowledge 27/31(87.1%) Reported an overall good experience RESULTS
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENATIONS
302 participants have completed the survey thus
far.
202 participants (66.9%) have heard of PEP
prior to completing the survey and 100
participants (33.1%) have not.
31/202 (15.3%) with knowledge of PEP have
used it before.
Of these, 16/31 (51.6%) obtained PEP from a
general practitioner, 6 (19.4%) from a
Health4Men clinic and 9 (29%) from other
facilities.
28/31 participants (90.3%) completed their
course of PEP and 27 participants (87.1%)
reported that they were treated with respect
throughout their whole PEP experience.
These provisional findings suggest that there is
some back ground knowledge about, and use of
PEP among surveyed South African MSM.
This may indicate a positive impact from recent
MSM-targeted programs such as Anova Health
Institute’s Health4Men initiative
However, a third of participants had no knowledge
of PEP, indicating the need for improved education
and scaling up of PEP services.
References
1.  Baral, Stefan, et al. "Assessing Priorities for Combination
HIV Prevention Research for Men Who have Sex with
Men (MSM) in Africa." AIDS and Behavior (2012): 1-10
2.  McIntyre, James A. "The need for HIV prevention
interventions for men who have sex with men in Africa."
Sexually transmitted infections 86.2 (2010): 82-83.
3.  Merson, Michael, Nancy Padian, Thomas J. Coates,
Geeta Rao Gupta, Stefano M. Bertozzi, Peter Piot,
Purnima Mane, and Michael Bartos. "Combination HIV
prevention." The Lancet 372, no. 9652 (2008):
1805-1806.
4.  Kahn, James O., et al. "Feasibility of postexposure
prophylaxis (PEP) against human immunodeficiency
virus infection after sexual or injection drug use
exposure: the San Francisco PEP Study." Journal of
Infectious Diseases 183.5 (2001): 707-714.
Corresponding Author Details:
Dr. Johan Hugo
[email protected]
+27 21 447 2844
The Anova Health Institute NPC is supported by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
(PEPFAR) program via the US Agency for International Development, (USAID) under Cooperative
Agreement No 674-A-00-08- 00009-00.
The views expressed in this poster do not necessarily reflect those of PEPFAR or USAID.
Go to: www.anovahealth.co.za or follow us
AnovaHealthSA
Anova Health Institute