Background: The use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a complementary prevention strategy for HIV infection remains low in Cameroon.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of PrEP among adolescents and young men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers (FSW) in Cameroon.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents and young MSM and FSW aged 18-24 years, recruited consecutively from 17 to 28 July 2023 in 14 community-based organisations (CBOs) in 05 towns (Yaoundé, Douala, Bafoussam, Bamenda and Bertoua) in Cameroon. The variable of interest ‘acceptability of PrEP’ was measured using a 05-point Likert scale recoded as an ordinal variable (No-Neutral-Yes), with modalities 1 to 2 classified as ‘No’, 3 as ‘Neutral’ and 4 to 5 as ‘Yes’. Numerical variables were described using the median (IQR) and categorical variables using proportions. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with acceptability (95% CI). These analyses were performed using Excel 2016 and SPSS 22 software.
Results: A total of 393 adolescents and young MSM and FSW were enrolled at a median age of 22 years (20-24); the 21-24 age group was in the majority (70.7%), and 62.6% had secondary education. Overall, 76.4% of FSW and MSM adolescents and young people, including 72.2% of MSM and 79.2% of FSW, agreed to use PrEP if it was available. There was no significant difference between age and acceptability of PrEP (p=0.5). However, acceptability of PrEP among adolescents and young MSM and FSW was significantly associated with the city of Yaoundé (aOR=12.9; p=0.032) and negatively associated with not attending school (aOR=0.038; P=0.004).
Conclusion: The acceptability of PrEP among adolescents and young FSW and MSM is moderate in Cameroon. Stepping up awareness-raising and communication campaigns aimed at these at-risk groups will help to increase the acceptability of PrEP.