The Predisposition of Men Who Have Sex with Men to Use Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV in a Capital City in Northeast Brazil

The aim of this study was to analyze the predisposition and factors associated with the use of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV in men who have sex with men (MSM). This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the city of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, between January and July 2024. The study sample consisted of 320 MSM. A questionnaire consisting of 37 previously validated questions and a risk perception scale for HIV with eight questions were used. To explain which factors would be associated with predisposition to the use of PEP, a logistic regression analysis was applied with an odds ratio. The criterion for including variables in the logistic model was an association at the 20% level ( p ˂ 0.20) in the bivariate analysis. Statistical significance in the final model was set at 5%. Although the vast majority of MSM reported a willingness to use PEP (94.4%), their knowledge about prophylaxis and their HIV risk perceptions were largely unsatisfactory. It was found that living alone reduces the chances of predisposition to PEP use by 75% (AOR = 0.25; p = 0.01), and using a condom during oral sex reduces the chances of predisposition to PEP use by 91% (AOR = 0.09; p < 0.001). In light of this, the importance of greater investments in health education actions that reinforce the mechanisms of HIV transmission, as well as the use of methods for its prevention, is highlighted. In addition, targeted interventions are needed to improve knowledge about PEP and HIV risk perception.