Acceptability of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and opinions on PrEP service delivery among men who have sex with men in Singapore: a qualitative study

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU

Wong, Chen Seong;Kumar, P. Arun;Wong, Christina M.;Choong, Bryan C.H.;Lim, Oliver Z.;Chan, Yin Ying;Bin Ibrahim, Muhamad Alif;Chio, Martin T.;Tan, Rayner K. J.;Chen, Mark I.

Muhamad Alif Bin Ibrahim

Abstract

PrEP is effective in preventing HIV transmission among at-risk HIV-negative MSM. A qualitative descriptive study with five focus group discussions (N = 33) involving a purposively recruited sample of Singaporean MSM was conducted from August 2016 to April 2017 to understand local perspectives on potential barriers and motivators to the adoption of PrEP, prior to the implementation of PrEP services in Singapore. Knowledge of PrEP was high, and many viewed PrEP as an attractive alternative to condoms for HIV prevention. Concerns about PrEP included the cost of PrEP and related services, the frequency of PrEP-related clinic visits, fear of side effects, and the stigma associated with using PrEP. Participants felt PrEP was best provided by MSM-friendly providers, and more needed to be done to increase awareness of the effectiveness of PrEP. Access to PrEP for MSM in Singapore has to be affordable, patient-centered, and convenient to maximize the potential benefits of PrEP.

Journal

AIDS Education and Prevention

Publication Name

AIDS Education and Prevention

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ISBN/ISSN

1943-2755

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Publisher

Guilford Publications

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DOI

10.1521/aeap.2019.31.2.152