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Acceptability of Daily Use of Free Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Transgender Women Sex Workers in Shenyang, China

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Abstract

This study investigated the acceptability of daily use of free oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and associated factors among transgender women sex workers in Shenyang, China, following a briefing on PrEP. A total of 183 HIV negative or sero-status unknown participants completed the cross-sectional survey. The prevalence of acceptability of daily use of free oral PrEP was 61.2%. Adjusting for education level and monthly income, variables on negative attitudes toward PrEP (i.e., having concerns about the side-effects of PrEP) [Adjusted odds ratios (AOR): 0.26], perceived subjective norms (i.e., perceiving support from male partners to take PrEP) (AOR: 2.08), and perceived behavioral control (e.g., perceiving complete control over using PrEP) (AOR: 2.10–16.72) were significantly associated with acceptability of daily use of free oral PrEP. In addition, experiencing violence during sex work, perceived risk of contracting HIV from clients and probable anxiety were also significant. Future PrEP promotion campaigns should consider these factors.

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Abbreviations

AOR:

Adjusted odds ratios

CI:

Confidence interval

CRAI:

Condomless receptive anal intercourse

EFA:

Exploratory factor analysis

FSW:

Female sex workers

FTC:

Emtricitabine

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

MSM:

Men who have sex with men

MSW:

Male sex workers

NGO:

Non-governmental organization

NRP:

Non-regular sex partner

OR:

Univariate odds ratios

ORm:

Multivariate odds ratios

PrEP:

Pre-exposure prophylaxis

RP:

Regular sex partner

SD:

Standard deviation

STD:

Sexually transmitted diseases

TDF:

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

TPB:

Theory of planned behavior

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Health Behaviours Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Zixin Wang, Joseph T. F. Lau, Xueying Yang & Danielle L. Gross

  2. Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China

    Zixin Wang & Joseph T. F. Lau

  3. Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

    Yong Cai

  4. Shenyang Consultation Centre of AIDS Aid and Health Service, Shenyang, China

    Tiecheng Ma & Yan Liu

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  1. Zixin Wang
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  2. Joseph T. F. Lau
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Correspondence to Joseph T. F. Lau.

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Research Involving Human Participants

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Survey and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Wang, Z., Lau, J.T.F., Yang, X. et al. Acceptability of Daily Use of Free Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Transgender Women Sex Workers in Shenyang, China. AIDS Behav 21, 3287–3298 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-1869-4

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