Knowledge and perception of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among healthcare workers

Introduction: In Brazil, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is freely available to individuals at high risk of HIV infection. However, knowledge and perception of PrEP can act as barriers to its access and use. This study evaluated PrEP knowledge and perception among healthcare workers in the Unified Health System in a Brazilian capital. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data through interviews with healthcare workers from 72 Primary Health Care (PHC) units and 5 Specialized Care (SC) services in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. Binomial logistic regression models were used to analyze factors associated with PrEP knowledge and perception. Results: A total of 372 professionals were interviewed. The majority were PHC professionals (93.0%), female (76.1%), aged between 30 and 39 years (41.4%), heterosexual (83.3%), and non-white (51.9%). PrEP knowledge was higher among LGBTQIA + professionals, those with less than one year of healthcare work experience, those with a positive perception of PrEP, and those attending more patients per day. A positive perception of PrEP was significantly higher among professionals who care for people living with HIV and lower among those with limited knowledge about PrEP. Discussion: Identifying factors influencing PrEP access may help develop strategies to improve knowledge and perception, particularly in high-impact areas.