With the aim to end HIV transmission by 2030, sexual health clinics across Merseyside and Cheshire have been working hard to reinforce that PrEP medication can be taken by women.
Previous research has been focused on HIV/AIDS in males which has had negative consequences of women taking PrEP medication.
Dr David Rook, a specialty registrar at Axess Sexual Health, Liverpool, states that one of the biggest barriers to women using PrEP is awareness:
“Many women at risk of HIV do not realise they are at risk, and therefore don’t think PrEP is relevant to them. Furthermore, very few of the original PrEP research studies involved women, so less was initially know about how PrEP works for this group.
Research from National aids trust shared that: “The majority of people initiating or continuing PrEP in England in 2022 were white gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men, with 74.6% of those with PrEP need in this groups initiating or continuing PrEP in this year.” With Women only representing 2.9% of attendees of specialist sexual health services who initiated or continued use of PrEP in England in 2022.
Campaigns have been set in place to reinforce that women should treat PrEP treatment as importantly as smear tests and contraception. EmpowHERment Campaigns was introduced in March 2024 to encourage HIV sexual health screening.
More on this campaign is available on the axes clinic page
Liverpool City Council has drives local plans to improve testing, support, identification and treatment related to HIV and awareness of prevention. With the target of zero new HIV transmission by 2030 Liverpool has signed the Paris Declaration called the Fast-Track Cities which has a set of commitment to achieve the 90-90-90 UNAIDS targets.
Here are the 90-90-90 UNIAIDS targets outlined below:
- By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
- By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy.
- By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
