Engaging the private sector as part of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis service delivery in Vietnam: a comparative analysis of uptake, persistence and HIV seroconversion from 2018 to 2023

BackgroundIn Vietnam, PrEP was introduced in 2017 and scaled up from 2019. Private sector engagement (PSE) in PrEP service delivery was deployed as a strategy from the start to increase PrEP access. We assessed the effectiveness of this approach to inform ongoing efforts to accelerate epidemic control by 2030.MethodsWe implemented a process evaluation with longitudinal design using retrospective programmatic data collected and uploaded onto a secure online system (HMED) from 23 public and 17 private PrEP clinics in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), and Dong Nai. We measured the effectiveness of PrEP service delivery by PrEP initiation/reinitiation, uptake, persistence, discontinuation, and HIV seroconversion. We used the Kaplan-Meier time-to-event approach to estimate PrEP persistence and mixed-effects logistic regression analysis to assess factors associated with the PrEP persistence.ResultsFrom October 2017 to September 2023, 29,944 individuals initiated PrEP, and among these, 79.3% started PrEP at a private sector clinic while 20.7% initiated in a public sector clinic. The median duration of PrEP use persistence at private clinics was significantly longer than that at public clinics (268 days vs. 148 days, respectively). Mixed-effects logistic regression analysis results indicated a significant statistical association between PrEP persistence for at least three months and initiating PrEP at a private clinic [adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.96–6.19], opting for TelePrEP (aOR = 3.42; 95% CI: 2.12–5.53), or being 20 years of age or older (aOR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.62–2.13). HIV seroconversion was significantly lower among PrEP users at private clinics compared to public clinics (0.03 vs. 0.13 per 100 person-years, respectively; p < 0.01).ConclusionOffering choice in PrEP service delivery options is essential to increase access and uptake. Private-sector PrEP providers play a pivotal role in increasing PrEP uptake and coverage in Vietnam, and will be critical to delivery of new long-acting options.