Resumen

In 2019, Colombia approved the combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine forHIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Therefore, we conducted a situational analysis in HIV-careproviders to identify barriers and facilitators for PrEP implementation. A survey was applied to anon-probabilistic sample of health care workers of HIV-specialized clinics. We examined PrEPawareness and familiarity, comfort with PrEP-related activities, perceived barriers for PrEPimplementation, concerns, and attitudes. Poisson regressions assessed the relationship betweenthese factors and the variable“having a plan to offer PrEP”. The participation rate was 41% andincluded physicians (42.6%) and other health professionals (57.4%). Fifty-one percent of theparticipants reported more thanfive years of experience caring for people living with HIV.Forty-two percent of non-physician health care workers were nurses. Most reported highfamiliarity/comfort with PrEP-relevant activities. Concerns about PrEP were prevalent (> 50%)and included causing more harm than good, reducing condom use, medication non-adherence,drug resistance, and healthcare system barriers. Physicians had a plan to offer PrEP (72.2%)more often than other health professionals (52.6). Having a plan to offer PrEP was related toPrEP knowledge and comfort assessing sexual behavior and providing HIV counseling. Overall,about half of HIV-care providers seemed ready to offer PrEP and constitute an asset for PrEPimplementation efforts in Colombia. PrEP awareness among non-physicians, PrEP concerns, andnegative attitudes need to be addressed to enhance implementation.