HIV post-exposure prophylaxis in vulnerable populations: a retrospective longitudinal study in a public health ambulatory in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 2015-2018

Abstract

Objective: To describe the profile of people who initiated post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in a public health service, evaluating the use of this technology among the key populations preconized by the Ministry of Health of Brazil. Methods: Retrospective longitudinal study, with secondary data of people attended between 2015-2018. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated and Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare behavioral characteristics. Results: From 270 people evaluated, there was a higher frequency of white (76.3%) young adults (45.4%), male (74.7%), highly educated (65.7%) and with multiple sex partners (40.7%). Among the key populations, there was a higher frequency of people who use alcohol and/or other drug (49.6%) and men who have sex with men (38.1%), while lower frequency of transgender people (2.2%) and sex workers (4.8%) used PEP. Conclusion: The use of PEP was not homogeneous among the vulnerable groups evaluated, with lower frequency of transgender people and sex workers.