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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