PrEP Product Awareness, Preferences, and Past Experiences among Transgender Women and Men Who Have Sex with Men in Asia and Australia: The PrEP APPEAL Study Report.

PrEP Product Awareness, Preferences, and Past Experiences among Transgender Women and Men Who Have Sex with Men in Asia and Australia (PrEP APPEAL) was a survey study in 16 countries and territories in Asia and Australia. The overall goal of PrEP APPEAL was to identify values and preferences about PrEP, as well as barriers and facilitators to PrEP uptake, among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Asia and Australia.

Key findings

• PrEP awareness was high with 81% of TGW, 80% of MSM in Asian low- and middle-income countries, 91% of MSM in high-income countries and 97% of MSM in Australia having heard of PrEP.
• Among participants who had heard of PrEP, 48% of TGW, 25% of MSM in Asian low- and middle-income countries, 19% of MSM in Asian high-income countries, and 47% of MSM in Australia were current PrEP users.
• Of those who had never taken PrEP, 57% of TGW, 72% of MSM in Asian low- and middle-income countries, 70% of MSM in Asian high-income countries, and 65% of MSM in Australia stated that they would like to take PrEP.
• Across all populations, cost was the most important driver of choice to use PrEP.
• The type of PrEP was the next most important driver of choice to use PrEP for TGW, MSM in Asian low- and middle-income countries, and MSM in Australia.
• Side effects were the second most important driver of choice to use PrEP for MSM in Asian high-income countries.