Awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among women in England

HIV Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a powerful biomedical tool for HIV prevention. In England, PrEP has routinely been available from sexual health services since October 2020. Despite accounting for ~20% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021, <2% of PrEP users were women. In this project, complementary methods were used to investigate awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of PrEP among women in England through an equity lens in order to inform policies and practice that may increase HIV prevention access and engagement in this population.

‍

This project consisted of three studies: 

• A systematic review of observational studies in high-income countries which explored definitions “PrEP awareness” and “PrEP interest” and whether factors known to influence health equity were considered when reporting outcome measures.
• Interviews with women living in England to explore their awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of PrEP and PrEP implementation.
• An online survey to investigate the women's awareness of an preferences for PrEP delivery.

‍

Taken together, the results of these studies showed a need to embed PrEP into wider conversations around HIV and HIV prevention. Many women were aware of PrEP, but but didn't know how it worked, who could use it, how and when to take it, or why someone might want to. To improve equitable access to PrEP, education and awareness campaigns should include women-specific information. Integrating HIV prevention in wider conversations around sexual health, and expanding PrEP provision outside of sexual health services may help make PrEP and PrEP information more accessibile for women.