PROFILE STUDY OF PEP USERS (HIV POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CASCAVEL

Abstract

The Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is part of the Brazilian health care model – SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde - Unified Health System) Combined Prevention set of strategies, which main objective is to expand the forms of intervention to prevent new HIV infections. Therefore, this study seeks to carry out the epidemiological profile of PEP users through the analysis of data provided by the Ministry of Health, considering that the stratification of indicators by key variables - such as population, age group, type of exposure -, it allows the identification of barriers related to the sociodemographic characteristics to which the individual is subject, as well as the direction of actions in a focused way. The health profile of HIV PEP users in Cascavel reveals a progressive increase in dispensations over the years, with the exception of a reduction in 2020. The most served populations include cisgender women (36.1-37%), cisgender gay/MSM individuals (30.3-32.2%), and cisgender heterosexual men (28.8-30%). The predominant age group of users is between 25 and 39 years, followed by the 15 to 24 years and 40 to 59 years groups. Regarding alcohol and drug use, only 21% of Cascavel users reported their use during exposure, a lower percentage compared to the state of Paraná. Furthermore, occupational accidents and consensual sexual exposure are equally common as forms of exposure in Cascavel, differing from national and state patterns. As a result, it is concluded that it is important to reinforce knowledge about PEP and to make it feasible for professionals who have suffered occupational accidents, for sex workers and for the LGBTQIA+ population, reinforcing the indispensable use of condoms to avoid the risks of consensual sexual exposure.