Prevalence of Awareness and Factors Associated With Acceptability of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Female University Students Aged 18 To 24 Years in Rwanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ijhs.3334Keywords:
HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV preventionAbstract
Purpose: HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key prevention tool for people at substantial risk of HIV like young women (YW). This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with PrEP acceptability among YW in Rwanda.
Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional study that gathered quantitative information from 455 YW students in selected universities in Rwanda. A structured questionnaire was used to collect participants’ information about their socio-demography, along with PrEP awareness and acceptability. The data were analyzed using STATA 17 descriptively and a logistic regression model was built to determine factors associated with the PrEP acceptability.
Findings: Of the participants, 87.5% had heard of PrEP, and 87.9% expressed willingness to use it when advised by a healthcare provider. Students unaware of PrEP were significantly more likely to accept it [aOR: 13.8], while those informed about both pill and injectable forms had higher acceptability [aOR: 15.8–20.4]. Students reporting no barriers and those likely to recommend PrEP were also more accepting [aOR: 4.5 and 153, respectively].
Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study highlights high awareness and acceptability, though concerns about oral PrEP's pill burden persist. Enhancing education to counter myths and expanding access to injectable PrEP could improve uptake among YW in Rwanda.
Downloads
References
Ajzen, I. (1985). From Intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. Action Control, 11–39.
Amico, K. R., Ramirez, C., Caplan, M. R., Montgomery, B. E. E., Stewart, J., Hodder, S., Swaminathan, S., Wang, J., Darden-Tabb, N. Y., McCauley, M., Mayer, K. H., Wilkin, T., Landovitz, R. J., Gulick, R., & Adimora, A. A. (2019). Perspectives of US women participating in a candidate PrEP study: adherence, acceptability and future use intentions. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 22(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25247
Janosik, S. M. (2020). Investigating Attitudes and Beliefs of University Students Aged 18 To 24 Years That Influence Their Decision To Take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Medication. NASPA Journal, 42(4), 1.
Nanjundeswaraswamy, T. S., & Divakar, S. (2021). Determination of Sample Size and Sampling Methods in Applied Research. Proceedings on Engineering Sciences, 3(1), 25–32. https://doi.org/10.24874/pes03.01.003
Nguyen, S. N., & Mayerhofer, R. (2022). Awareness and willingness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among young people in Sweden: An online survey. 0–22. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1684908/ATTACHMENT01.pdf
Okeke, N. L., McLaurin, T., Gilliam-Phillips, R., Wagner, D. H., Barnwell, V. J., Johnson, Y. M., James, O., Webb, P. B., Parker, S. D., Hill, B., McKellar, M. S., & Mitchell, J. T. (2021). Awareness and acceptability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among students at two historically Black universities (HBCU): a cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10996-2
RBC. (2018). National Guidelines for Prevention and Management of HIV and STIs Edition 201 6. Rwanda Ministry of Health. https://www.google.rw/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjI1eWH19b_AhU8Q_EDHfJVBAoQFnoECBkQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Felearning.moh.gov.rw%2Fpluginfile.php%2F2390%2Fcourse%2Foverviewfiles%2F2018%2520HIV%2520National%2520Guidelines_
RBC. (2022). GUIDELINES FOR HIV PREVENTION , TREATMENT AND CARE IN RWANDA. Rwanda Biomedical Centre, 1–178.
Shamu, S., Shamu, P., Khupakonke, S., Farirai, T., Chidarikire, T., Guloba, G., & Nkhwashu, N. (2021). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, attitudes and uptake willingness among young people: gender differences and associated factors in two South African districts. Global Health Action, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1886455
Shmueli, L. (2021). Predicting intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine among the general population using the health belief model and the theory of planned behavior model. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 804. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10816-7
Thongsutt, T., Laopaiboonkun, S., Thanon, N., Thongthummachart, V., Yaena, A., & Muthanna, F. M. S. (2022). Awareness of existence, knowledge, and acceptability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among university students in Thailand. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 12(12), 049–058. https://doi.org/10.7324/JAPS.2022.121206
Underhill, K., Morrow, K. M., Operario, D., & Mayer, K. H. (2014). Could FDA approval of pre-exposure prophylaxis make a difference? A qualitative study of PrEP acceptability and FDA perceptions among men who have sex with men. AIDS and Behavior, 18(2), 241–249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0498-9
WHO. (2019). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). https://www.who.int/teams/global-hiv-hepatitis-and-stis-programmes/hiv/prevention/pre-exposure-prophylaxis
WHO. (2021). US FDA approved cabotegravir extended-release – the first long-acting injectable option for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. https://www.who.int/news/item/21-12-2021-fda-approved-cabotegravir-extended-release
WHO. (2023). HIV AIDS fact sheet.pdf. World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Clarisse Murebwayire, Zephanie Nzeyimana, Amanuel Kidane
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
