Awareness and Acceptability of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Kazakhstan: A Mixed Methods Study

Sep 28, 2026

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Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an antiretroviral HIV prevention method recommended for men who have sex with men (MSM) at high infection risk. In Kazakhstan, where PrEP is not currently available amid a rapidly growing HIV epidemic, this mixed methods study investigates MSM awareness and acceptability. An online survey and qualitative interviews assess willingness, perceived benefits, and barriers, finding low prior awareness but high potential uptake if PrEP were accessible.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Global and regional HIV context

What PrEP is and how it is used

WHO recommendations and regional availability

Kazakhstan context and rationale

Original Article Cent Asian J Med Sci. 2018 June;4(2):102-115 . [https://doi.org/10.24079/CAJMS.2018.06.002](https://doi.org/10.24079/CAJMS.2018.06.002) Awareness and Acceptability of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Kazakhstan: A Mixed Methods Study Marieke Bak1, Anke van Dam2, Rien Janssens3 1Department of General Practice, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2AFEW International, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 3Department of Medical Humanities, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands. | Submitted: March 20, 2018
Revised: May 12, 2018
Accepted: May 29, 2018
Corresponding Author
Marieke Bak, MSc MA Department of General Practice, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 566 7182
[E-mail:](E-mail: m.a.bak@amc.nl)[ m.a.bak@amc.nl](E-mail: m.a.bak@amc.nl)
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License ([http://](http://)[ ](http://)[creativecommons. org/licenses/by nc /4.0/](creativecommons. org/licenses/by nc /4.0/) ) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Copyright© 2018 Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences | Objectives: Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an antiretroviral method of HIV prevention recommended to men who have sex with men (MSM) at high risk of infection. In Kazakhstan, which has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics globally, PrEP is not currently available. The aim of this study is to explore the possibilities for PrEP initiatives in Kazakhstan by investigating awareness and acceptability of this prevention method among MSM. Methods: This mixedmethods study employs an online survey and qualitative interviews to describe PrEP awareness and acceptability. Results: Less than half (39 .8%) of survey participants had heard of PrEP. However, a majority (85 . 2%) of MSM would possibly or definitely use PrEP if it was available. Awareness of PrEP was positively associated with willingness to use PrEP. The main reason tobe interested in PrEP was an increased feeling of protection, whereas barriers were related to the idea of taking daily medication and the potential for side effects. Conclusion: PrEP is an essential component of HIV combination prevention. Our findings suggest potential for PrEP programmes among MSM in Kazakhstan and possibly in other Central Asian nations, when taking into account burdens of taking PrEP as well as more structural health policy issues.
Keywords: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, HIV Infections, Sexual and Gender Minorities, Health Policy, Kazakhstan | | --- | --- | Introduction The global HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a major public health issue: in 2015, an estimated 36.7 million people worldwide were living with HIV [1] . Despite global progress, the incidence of HIV continues to grow in some regions, with one of the most rapidly accelerating epidemics taking place in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) . New HIV infections in EECA rose by 57% between 2010 and 2015, and 1.5 million people are currently living with HIV [1] . Although access to antiretroviral treatment has expanded in the region, there are still large groups of people who are not being treated, especially among the key affected 102 [www.cajms.mn](www.cajms.mn) Marieke Bak populations [1] . It is increasingly recognised that universal access to testing and treatment alone will not stop the epidemic and that the HIV/AIDS response in the region requires effective primary prevention. However, traditional prevention methods have been found to be of limited effectiveness [2] . PrEP is a daily pill consisting of a combination of tenofovir/ emtricitabine, two anti-retroviral drugs. It is branded by Gilead Sciences as Truvada and was first approved for prevention in 2012 in the United States. The a

FAQs

What is the main goal of the study in Kazakhstan?

To explore possibilities for PrEP initiatives by investigating awareness and acceptability of PrEP among men who have sex with men (MSM).

How was awareness and acceptability of PrEP measured?

The study used a mixed methods design with an online survey and qualitative interviews to assess PrEP awareness and acceptability.

What factors influenced participants’ willingness to use PrEP?

Awareness was positively associated with willingness to use PrEP. Interested participants cited increased feelings of protection, while barriers were linked to taking daily medication and concerns about potential side effects.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Melati