Knowledge and perception toward HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among primary healthcare nurses in the Ingquza Hill Health Sub district, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- 1Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg
Abstract
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still a major public health concern in South Africa. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to effectively reduce the risk of new HIV infections. Despite this, research on healthcare workers' knowledge and perceptions of PrEP in rural OR Tambo districts remains limited.
Aim: This study sought to assess the knowledge and explore the perceptions of HIV PrEP among primary healthcare (PHC) nurses in the Ingquza Hill Health Sub-District.
Setting: The study was conducted at PHC facilities in the Ingquza Hill Health Sub-District, OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was employed among primary healthcare nurses working at the Ingquza Hill Health Sub-District. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Among the 157 nurses surveyed, most showed a strong understanding of PrEP. Many could identify its definition (87.3%), eligibility criteria (86.6%), and preferred regimen (87.9%). In contrast, fewer nurses were aware of follow-up protocols (53.5%) and risk compensation (46.6%). The results also showed that knowledge of counseling messages, contraindications, and when to stop PrEP varied by professional category ( p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Primary Healthcare nurses in the Ingquza Hill Health Sub-District understood PrEP well and held mostly positive views of it. Nevertheless, some had trouble complying with protocols and did not fully understand risk compensation. The data show that more training for nurses could make PrEP work better in rural areas where HIV rates are high.
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BibTeX
@article{mtatambi2026knowledge,
title = {{Knowledge and perception toward HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among primary healthcare nurses in the Ingquza Hill Health Sub district, Eastern Cape, South Africa}},
author = {Ongama Mluleki Mtatambi and Bernard Hope Taderera},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1947859},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1947859/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Knowledge and perception toward HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among primary healthcare nurses in the Ingquza Hill Health Sub district, Eastern Cape, South Africa
AU - Ongama Mluleki Mtatambi
AU - Bernard Hope Taderera
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1947859
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1947859/full
AB - Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still a major public health concern in South Africa. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to effectively reduce the risk of new HIV infections. Despite this, research on healthcare workers' knowledge and perceptions of PrEP in rural OR Tambo districts remains limited. Aim: This study sought to assess the knowledge and explore the perceptions of HIV PrEP among primary healthcare (PHC) nurses in the Ingquza Hill Health Sub-District. Setting: The study was conducted at PHC facilities in the Ingquza Hill Health Sub-District, OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was employed among primary healthcare nurses working at the Ingquza Hill Health Sub-District. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Among the 157 nurses surveyed, most showed a strong understanding of PrEP. Many could identify its definition (87.3%), eligibility criteria (86.6%), and preferred regimen (87.9%). In contrast, fewer nurses were aware of follow-up protocols (53.5%) and risk compensation (46.6%). The results also showed that knowledge of counseling messages, contraindications, and when to stop PrEP varied by professional category ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Primary Healthcare nurses in the Ingquza Hill Health Sub-District understood PrEP well and held mostly positive views of it. Nevertheless, some had trouble complying with protocols and did not fully understand risk compensation. The data show that more training for nurses could make PrEP work better in rural areas where HIV rates are high.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -