Abstract
BackgroundPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective and cost-effective strategy for HIV prevention. Spain carried out an implementation study in order to assess the feasibility of implementing PrEP programmes within its heterogeneous health system.MethodsObservational longitudinal study conducted on four different types of health-care setting: a community centre (CC), a sexually transmitted infections clinic (STIC), a hospital-based HIV unit (HBHIVU) and a hospital-based STI unit (HBSTIU). We recruited gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBSM) and transgender women at risk of HIV infections, gave them PrEP and monitored clinical, behavioural PrEP-related and satisfaction information for 52 weeks. We collected perceptions on PrEP implementation feasibility from health-care professionals participating in the study.ResultsA total of 321 participants were recruited, with 99.1% being GBMSM. Overall retention was 87.2% and it was highest at the CC (92.6%). Condom use decreased during the study period, while STIs did not increase consistently. The percentage of people who did not miss any doses of PrEP during the previous week remained at over 93%. No HIV seroconversions occurred. We observed overall decreases in GHB (32.5% to 21.8%), cocaine (27.5% to 21.4%), MDMA (25.7% to 14.3%), speed (11.4% to 5.7%) and mephedrone use (10.7% to 5.0%). The overall participant satisfaction with PrEP was 98.6%. Health-care professionals’ perceptions of PrEP feasibility were positive, except for the lack of personnel.ConclusionsPrEP implementation is feasible in four types of health-care settings. Local specificities have to be taken into consideration while implementing PrEP.
Highlights
There has been a decline in the incidence of HIV in recent years in Spain, 3244 new HIV diagnoses were reported in 2018, 56.4% of which were gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) [1]
Observational longitudinal study conducted on four different types of health-care setting: a community centre (CC), a sexually transmitted infections clinic (STIC), a hospital-based HIV unit (HBHIVU) and a hospital-based STI unit (HBSTIU)
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation is feasible in four types of health-care settings
Summary
There has been a decline in the incidence of HIV in recent years in Spain, 3244 new HIV diagnoses were reported in 2018, 56.4% of which were gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) [1]. These numbers reflect the need for new preventive strategies such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which has proved to be safe, effective and cost-effective [2,3,4]. Spain carried out an implementation study in order to assess the feasibility of implementing PrEP programmes within its heterogeneous health system
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