Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Editorial
. 2017 Jul 1;3(3):128-139.
doi: 10.1016/S2055-6640(20)30331-9.

Factors associated with intention to take non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis among Thai men who have sex with men

Nitiya Chomchey  1 , Thira Woratanarat  2 , Narin Hiransuthikul  2 , Somrat Lertmaharit  2 , Vitool Lohsoonthorn  2 , Nipat Teeratakulpisarn  3 , Suteeraporn Pinyakorn  4 , James Lk Fletcher  1 , Duanghathai Suttichom  1 , Praphan Phanuphak  3 , Jintanat Ananworanich  1   4   5 , Nittaya Phanuphak  1   3
Affiliations
Editorial

Factors associated with intention to take non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis among Thai men who have sex with men

Nitiya Chomchey et al. J Virus Erad. .

Abstract

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately infected with HIV in Thailand. Factors affecting their intention to take non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) are not well understood. This study sought to determine factors associated with an intention to take nPEP in this population.

Method: This is a two-phase mixed-method study. Phase I was a cross-sectional survey of intention to take nPEP in 450 MSM attending for HIV testing, using a self-administered questionnaire. Phase II was a prospective descriptive study, using an in-depth interview among 40 MSM who had been exposed to HIV in the past 72 hours. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate factors relating to the intention to use nPEP.

Results: Among 450 MSM seeking HIV testing in Bangkok, 7% had ever taken nPEP. Only 40% expressed an intention to take it to prevent HIV acquisition, despite the fact that they were at high risk as evidenced by an 18.9% prevalence of HIV-positive status. Factors associated with an intention to take nPEP were awareness about nPEP, HIV knowledge, mode of sexual intercourse and circumcision. Among 40 MSM who were eligible for and offered nPEP, 39 agreed to take it, and all but one completed the 4-week course. Condom use increased and all 32 individuals who could be contacted tested HIV negative after nPEP.

Conclusion: A high HIV prevalence was found in MSM testing for HIV in this study. However, fewer than half of the participants expressed the intention to take nPEP if they were at risk for HIV infection. Efforts to create nPEP awareness and improve HIV knowledge in MSM are crucial to the successful implementation of nPEP as part of a combination package for HIV prevention in this high-risk population.

Keywords: HIV infection; MSM; intention; nPEP; willingness.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flowchart showing subject participation in the study. * This participant did not show an intention to take nPEP as assessed by a questionnaire. ** Six showed an intention to take nPEP and four showed no intention to take nPEP when assessed by a questionnaire
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. UNAIDS 2016. Global AIDS Update. Available at: www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2016/Global-AIDS-update-2016 ( accessed June 2017).
    1. Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health 2008. The Asian Epidemic Model (AEM) Projections for HIV/AIDS in Thailand: 2005–2025. Available at: hivhealthclearinghouse.unesco.org/library/documents/asian-epidemic-model... ( accessed June 2017).
    1. Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control Ministry of Public Health HIV/AIDS situation in Thailand 2016. Available at: http://203.157.15.110/boe/surveillance.php?idx=c2l0#sur-href ( accessed June 2017).
    1. Griensven F, Holtz TH, Thienkrua W et al. . Temporal trends in HIV-1 incidence and risk behaviours in men who have sex with men in Bangkok, Thailand, 2006–13: an observational study. Lancet HIV 2015; 2: e64– 70. - PubMed
    1. Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre 2016. Our services: Thai Red Cross Anonymous Clinic. Available at: http://en.trcarc.org/?slide=slide-4 ( accessed June 2017).

Publication types