HIV post-exposure prophylaxis programmes in the developed and developing world: can we learn from each other?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is critical for preventing HIV transmission after potential exposure.
• Effective PEP requires adherence to follow-up visits and HIV testing to confirm efficacy.
• Previous audits identified deficiencies in PEP programs, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common deficiencies in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) programs.
• To investigate the reasons behind poor attendance at follow-up visits and HIV testing within PEP programs.
• To compare PEP program deficiencies in Blantyre, Malawi, and Liverpool, UK.

Main Methods:

• An audit of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) programs was conducted.
• Data collection focused on attendance rates for follow-up visits and HIV testing.
• Comparative analysis was performed between programs in Blantyre, Malawi, and Liverpool, UK.

Main Results:

• A significant and common deficiency identified was poor attendance at scheduled follow-up visits.
• Suboptimal attendance at crucial HIV testing appointments was also a prevalent issue.
• These deficiencies were observed in both Blantyre, Malawi, and Liverpool, UK.

Conclusions:

• Poor adherence to follow-up protocols is a major challenge in ensuring the efficacy of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
• Further research is required to understand the underlying causes of poor follow-up in diverse settings.
• Addressing these adherence issues is essential for optimizing PEP program outcomes globally.