Utilization of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Associated Factors Among Female Sex Workers in Bahir Dar City, North-West Ethiopia, Cross-sectional Study, 2022

Bezza Ademe,1 Eyob Ketema Bogale,2 Tadele Fentabil Anagaw2 1Department of Nursing, Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Tadele Fentabil Anagaw, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, PoBox:079, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Tel +251-927692916, Email tadele27@gmail.comObjective: This study aimed to assess the utilization of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and associated factors among commercial female sex workers in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Bahir Dar City from November 1 to 30, 2022. The random sampling technique was used to select 396 commercial female sex workers. Kobo Collector was used to gather the data, which was then exported to STATA 14 for analysis. In bivariate regression analysis, all variables with a P-value of < 0.2 were entered into multivariable logistic regression. Multivariable logistic regression variables with P-values ≤ 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval were declared to be significantly linked with the utilization of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.Results: In this study, 183 (46.2%) (95%CI: 41.33– 51.16) of respondents utilized HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. Educational status: secondary and above (AOR: 2.18, 95%CI: 1.05– 4.53). Age of sex workers 26– 36 (AOR: 0.20, 95%CI: 0.17– 0.84); experience of sex work 3– 5 years (AOR: 0.25, 95%CI: 0.24– 0.83); and having good knowledge (AOR: 4.98, 95%CI: 3.90– 10.65) were significantly associated with the utilization of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.Conclusion: In this study, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis was not widely used by commercial female sex workers. Therefore, social and behavioral change communication strategies focus on creating awareness and building knowledge on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis utilization.Keywords: pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, female sex workers, Ethiopia