Barriers to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) use for HIV: an integrative review

OBJECTIVES: to identify and synthesize scientific evidence on the barriers and difficulties for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) use and compliance for HIV. METHODS: an integrative literature review, using the MEDLINE/PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Academic Search Premier and Scopus (Elsevier) databases. RESULTS: all (100%) the articles included identified that PrEP users experience some type of structural barrier related to health services such as long distance from the units, suboptimal logistics for taking pills and professional resistance to prescribing PrEP. Furthermore, 63.21% identified social barriers, such as stigma about sexuality and HIV, in addition to individual barriers such as alcohol use, adverse effects, and concerns about long-term toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: the barriers to PrEP use are multifactorial. Effective interventions are needed to support PrEP users in accessing, complying with, and retaining health services.