In 2016, almost two million people were infected with HIV worldwide. Additionally, one million deaths globally were related to AIDS. In Rwanda, an estimated three percent of the adult general population is infected with HIV but challenges exist in the utilization of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent new infections, a new Yale School of Medicine study found. PrEP is a medication used to prevent high-risk individuals from contracting HIV from their partners.
A random survey of health care workers and community members found that multiple barriers exist among this population in the use of PrEP. Surveys between health care workers and community members varied slightly. Both surveys asked about knowledge and perception of HIV, preexisting knowledge of PrEP, and attitudes towards PrEP. In addition, health care workers were asked about their interest in providing PrEP. Community members were also asked about their knowledge and perceptions of the cause and transmission of HIV. The surveys also collected demographic information.
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Published: Friday, December 7, 2018
