HIV non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) awareness and promotion among five key populations in China: A cross-sectional study.

Background: This study investigated HIV non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) awareness and promotion, and related sociodemographic and behavioural factors among five key populations in China.

Methods: From November 2018 to September 2019, we adopted convenience sampling to recruit participants who were age ≥ 18, self-reported HIV status as either negative or unknown and provided informed consent from five key populations cross-sectionally in 10 Chinese cities. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were adopted.

Findings: Our analysis included data from 2022 participants with a mean age of 35 years (SD = 11·62). Approximately 60% of participants reported non-consistent condom use in the past month, and 37% had not been tested for HIV in the past 12 months. There were 857 (42%) participants hearing about nPEP before the study, and 1728 (86%) endorsing nPEP promotion after learning about nPEP. Sociodemographic and behavioural factors related to both nPEP awareness and endorsement of nPEP promotion included the key population indicator, age, HIV knowledge score, and HIV testing over life course.

Interpretation: The key populations in China generally had low nPEP awareness, particularly people who use drugs and female sex workers, while seronegative partners had the lowest endorsement of nPEP promotion. nPEP education and promotion campaigns should be integrated into conventional HIV services, and tailored to sexually active young individuals, people with poor HIV knowledge, and people never tested for HIV.

Funding: China National Key Research and Development Program and National Science and Technology Major Project, and the i Guardian Platform of the People's Medical Publishing House.