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. 2024 Sep 9;7(9):e70060.
doi: 10.1002/hsr2.70060. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Awareness and willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis among the University of Zambia students: A cross-sectional study

Martin Kampamba  1 , Natalia N Nelumbu  1 , Christabel N Hikaambo  1 , Steward Mudenda  1 , Jimmy M Hangoma  2 , Mwape Kunda  3 , Webrod Mufwambi  1 , Audrey Hamachila  1 , Moses Mukosha  4   5
Affiliations

Awareness and willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis among the University of Zambia students: A cross-sectional study

Martin Kampamba et al. Health Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Background and aims: Despite a quick rollout of PrEP as a preventive method against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections in Zambia, adolescent and young adult populations have remained very vulnerable to HIV infection. This study assessed the awareness and willingness to use PrEP among University of Zambia (UNZA) students.

Methods: Three hundred forty-six students participated in this cross-sectional study at UNZA between March and June 2021. A previously validated questionnaire assessed willingness to use PrEP. We tested the hypothesized pathways between sexual risk behavior and willingness to use PrEP using the structural equation model. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to determine factors associated with willingness to use PrEP. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: Of the 346 students, 271 (78.3%) were aware of PrEP, and 59 (17.1%) of the participants were willing to use PrEP. Only 17 (4.9%) of the participants had used PrEP before. In the multivariable logistic regression model, students who were aware of PrEP compared to those who were not (AOR = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.10, 8.40, p) were more likely to be willing to use PrEP. Sexual risk behavior indirectly and positively affected willingness to use PrEP through awareness of PrEP.

Conclusion: Even though most students were aware of PrEP, the willingness to use this preventative measure is still low among UNZA students, resulting in low uptake. Therefore, concerted efforts are required to influence the willingness and uptake of PrEP, especially in high-risk age groups such as university students.

Keywords: prevention; pre‐exposure prophylaxis; students; uptake; willingness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hypothetical model of the mediating role of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness on the willingness to use PrEP.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structural equation model (SEM) of the relationship between sexual risk behavior and willingness to use PrEP (n = 346). Goodness of model fit Chi‐square = 30.3 (df = 18), p = 0.035; CFI = 0.931; RMSEA = 0.045 (90% CI = 0.012, 0.071). Standardized parameter estimates represent relationships. The boxes indicate measured variables, while the oval represents a latent variable. b1‐b10 are sexual risk behavior indicators. Aware‐awareness of PrEP, willingness‐willingness to use PrEP. Only pathways of age‐risk behavior and sexual risk behavior‐awareness‐willingness to use PrEP are significant at p < 0.05. RMSEA, root mean square error of approximation. CFI, comparative fit index (Figure 2).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among the participants (n = 346).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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