Effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Pakistan

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV Clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Study Design: A descriptive study covering the data of clients who were offered PrEP. Place and Duration of Study: HIV treatment center Pakistan Institute of Medical...

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Main Author: Muhammad Waqar Aslam Khan, Usman Nawaz, Ali Faheem, Mehwish Memon, Mahak Memon, Aleem Ul Haq
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Riphah International University, Islamabad 2023-03-01
Series:Journal of Islamic International Medical College
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.riphah.edu.pk/index.php/jiimc/article/view/1550
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author Muhammad Waqar Aslam Khan, Usman Nawaz, Ali Faheem, Mehwish Memon, Mahak Memon, Aleem Ul Haq
author_facet Muhammad Waqar Aslam Khan, Usman Nawaz, Ali Faheem, Mehwish Memon, Mahak Memon, Aleem Ul Haq
author_sort Muhammad Waqar Aslam Khan, Usman Nawaz, Ali Faheem, Mehwish Memon, Mahak Memon, Aleem Ul Haq
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV Clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Study Design: A descriptive study covering the data of clients who were offered PrEP. Place and Duration of Study: HIV treatment center Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad, Pakistan, from October 2019 to September 2022. Materials and Methods: Total of 118 people without HIV from various high-risk population groups were reported in HIV treatment center PIMS during a period of 3 years including 39 females from serodiscordant couples, 16 transgender females, and 63 men having sex with men (MSM). All of them were given oral PrEP after necessary screening, investigations, and evaluation. These clients were prescribed a fixed drug combination of Tenofovir/Lamivudine (TDF/3TC) one tablet daily as PrEP. The alternate regimen used was Event-driven PrEP (EDP) for MSM. Monthly follow-up was performed, and all patients were found to be HIV negative. Results: All 118 clients receiving PrEP remained seronegative on regular monthly follow-ups after a sufficiently long period of unsafe sexual practices that frequently exposed them to HIV-positive sex partners. Based on their age mean age of the clients in young group below 35 years was 27 + 6, all 62 young clients had 100% protection. Similarly, 41 middle aged (mean age 43 + 6) and 15 old clients (mean age 56 + 5) had 100% protection with PrEP. Six women from serodiscordant couples while receiving PrEP became pregnant with partners who had completely suppressed viral load (<50 copies). Conclusion: Oral PrEP has offered complete protection to all seronegative individuals belonging to high-risk population groups despite their frequent exposure to HIV-positive partners. All 118 individuals who received PrEP remained seronegative.
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spelling doaj.art-ad5a95a9dd494545866dcd3ffe3a0d742023-03-30T05:19:55ZengRiphah International University, IslamabadJournal of Islamic International Medical College1815-40182410-54222023-03-0118127311947Effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in PakistanMuhammad Waqar Aslam Khan, Usman Nawaz, Ali Faheem, Mehwish Memon, Mahak Memon, Aleem Ul HaqObjective: To evaluate the effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV Clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Study Design: A descriptive study covering the data of clients who were offered PrEP. Place and Duration of Study: HIV treatment center Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad, Pakistan, from October 2019 to September 2022. Materials and Methods: Total of 118 people without HIV from various high-risk population groups were reported in HIV treatment center PIMS during a period of 3 years including 39 females from serodiscordant couples, 16 transgender females, and 63 men having sex with men (MSM). All of them were given oral PrEP after necessary screening, investigations, and evaluation. These clients were prescribed a fixed drug combination of Tenofovir/Lamivudine (TDF/3TC) one tablet daily as PrEP. The alternate regimen used was Event-driven PrEP (EDP) for MSM. Monthly follow-up was performed, and all patients were found to be HIV negative. Results: All 118 clients receiving PrEP remained seronegative on regular monthly follow-ups after a sufficiently long period of unsafe sexual practices that frequently exposed them to HIV-positive sex partners. Based on their age mean age of the clients in young group below 35 years was 27 + 6, all 62 young clients had 100% protection. Similarly, 41 middle aged (mean age 43 + 6) and 15 old clients (mean age 56 + 5) had 100% protection with PrEP. Six women from serodiscordant couples while receiving PrEP became pregnant with partners who had completely suppressed viral load (<50 copies). Conclusion: Oral PrEP has offered complete protection to all seronegative individuals belonging to high-risk population groups despite their frequent exposure to HIV-positive partners. All 118 individuals who received PrEP remained seronegative.https://journals.riphah.edu.pk/index.php/jiimc/article/view/1550hiv, pre-exposure prophylaxis, serodiscordant couples, event-driven prep. hiv prevention, ms.
spellingShingle Muhammad Waqar Aslam Khan, Usman Nawaz, Ali Faheem, Mehwish Memon, Mahak Memon, Aleem Ul Haq
Effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Pakistan
Journal of Islamic International Medical College
hiv, pre-exposure prophylaxis, serodiscordant couples, event-driven prep. hiv prevention, ms.
title Effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Pakistan
title_full Effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Pakistan
title_fullStr Effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Pakistan
title_short Effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Pakistan
title_sort effectiveness of hiv pre exposure prophylaxis prep in pakistan
topic hiv, pre-exposure prophylaxis, serodiscordant couples, event-driven prep. hiv prevention, ms.
url https://journals.riphah.edu.pk/index.php/jiimc/article/view/1550
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