Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly abbreviated PrEP, is a biomedical HIV-prevention strategy in which HIV-negative individuals take antiretroviral medication before potential exposure to substantially reduce the risk of acquiring infection. By maintaining protective drug concentrations in blood and mucosal tissues, …

Curated from this journal's research 📚 7 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 22× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2324-7339 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly abbreviated PrEP, is a biomedical HIV-prevention strategy in which HIV-negative individuals take antiretroviral medication before potential exposure to substantially reduce the risk of acquiring infection. By maintaining protective drug concentrations in blood and mucosal tissues, the medication blocks establishment of the virus if exposure occurs through sexual contact or injection drug use. PrEP is recommended for people at elevated risk, including serodiscordant partners, men who have sex with men, female sex workers, and others in high-incidence settings, and it is delivered as part of a comprehensive prevention package that includes regular HIV testing, screening for other sexually transmitted infections, and adherence support. Its effectiveness is strongly dependent on consistent use, so adherence is a central determinant of real-world protection and a major focus of implementation. Successful programmes require awareness and acceptability among both potential users and healthcare providers, screening and linkage pathways within primary care, and attention to the social, structural, and behavioural barriers that limit uptake among key populations. Research in this area examines predictors of adherence, knowledge and attitudes among at-risk groups and prescribers, recruitment and engagement strategies, and the integration of PrEP with self-testing and broader sexual-health services. As a complement to condoms, treatment-as-prevention, and harm-reduction measures, PrEP is a tool for reducing HIV transmission at individual and population levels.

Research published in this journal

7 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 7 articles above have been cited 22 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Clinical Research In HIV AIDS And Prevention (ISSN 2324-7339).

Journal editorial board
Manoj Sarma · United States Mohammed Merzah · Hungary Marta Talavera · Spain

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.