Abstract

Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical HIV-prevention strategy, but its population-level impact depends on the awareness and accurate knowledge of the populations most at risk. Female sex workers (FSWs) are disproportionately affected by HIV, yet Nigerian evidence on their PrEP awareness and knowledge remains limited. This study assessed the levels of awareness and knowledge of HIV-PrEP among FSWs in Abeokuta South Local Government Area (LGA), Ogun State.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey recruited 274 FSWs (96.1% response rate) through multi-stage snowball sampling across identified hotspots. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.736–0.812) and analysed in SPSS version 27 using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, and the chi-square test of independence (α = 0.05).

Results: Respondents were predominantly young (46.1% aged 15–24 years; mean 20 ± 0.85 years) and educated (59.1% tertiary). Although 71.6% had heard of HIV-PrEP, only 38.7% had ever seen the medication and 48.5% knew where to access it; healthcare workers (65.1%) were the leading information source. Overall awareness was moderate for 60.8%, high for 26.0% and low for 13.2% (mean 13.69 ± 5.10). For knowledge, 89.7% correctly identified PrEP as prevention for HIV-negative persons and 83.8% recognised its effectiveness, yet 50.0% wrongly believed or were unsure that it cures HIV and 42.2% thought it could be given to HIV-positive persons. Overall knowledge was moderate for 50.4%, high for 29.9% and low for 19.7% (mean 8.00 ± 3.00). Duration of sex work was not significantly associated with knowledge (χ² = 6.84, df = 6, p = 0.336).

Conclusion: FSWs demonstrated moderate but incomplete awareness and knowledge of HIV-PrEP, with persistent misconceptions and weak service-linkage that were independent of years of practice. Targeted, service-linked education and misconception-focused counselling are required to convert basic familiarity into accurate, actionable understanding.

Keywords: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, Awareness, Knowledge, Female sex workers, HIV prevention,

Cite this article: