Willingness to take and ever use of pre-exposure prophylaxis among female sex workers in Ghana
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Date
2022
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Medicine
Abstract
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a drug taken by people who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative and at increased
risk of acquiring HIV. It’s an effective intervention for HIV prevention. This study seeks to report on the prevalence and determinants of
willingness to take and ever use of PrEP among female sex workers (FSW) in Ghana.
The data analyzed was obtained from the Integrated Bio-behavioral Surveillance Survey conducted across the 16 regions of Ghana
in 2020. Analysis was only performed on FSW who were tested negative to HIV and were sexually active. All included variables were
described using medians, percentages, and graphs. Bayesian adjusted odds ratios and 95% credible intervals were estimated using
a Bayesian generalized linear model via the binomial family of distributions under the logit link function.
Of the 5107 FSW with complete data on willingness to use PrEP, 2737 (53.59%) reported their willingness to take PrEP. Out of the
998 respondents who have ever heard of PrEP only 64 (6.39%) have ever used PrEP. The median age of the respondents was 25
years. People with no comprehensive knowledge of HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome as well as those who entered into
the FSW business at age less than 25 years; 946 (34.56%) and 2181 (79.65%) respectively were more willing to take PrEP. FSW from
6 out of the 16 regions of Ghana have never used PrEP. A statistically significant difference between those who entered the sex work
at age less than 25 years and those within 25 to 34 years was observed. About 23% of FSWs who had been screened for Sexually
Transmitted Infections were more likely to take PrEP.
Respondents with lesser age and no comprehensive knowledge of HIV were more willing to take PrEP. The willingness to accept
PrEP among FSWs in Ghana is modest. However, utilization is low. Advocacy or intervention programs are required to improve
uptake of PrEP.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Bayesian generalized linear regression mode, ever used pre-exposure prophylaxis, female sex workers, Ghana