Human immunodeficiency virus vulnerability and pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness among adolescent girls and young women in Cameroon: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the HIV vulnerability and PrEP awareness among AGYW in Cameroon. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey in which 637 AGYW were recruited. We conducted descriptive and logistic regression models to identify the factors associated with HIV vulnerability and PrEP awareness. Results: Among the 637 AGYW, 219 (34.4%) have shown vulnerability to HIV, which was significantly associated with their sexual orientation, education, and occupation. In addition, 519 (81%) AGYW reported no prior knowledge of PrEP, and among the 118 (19%) AGYW who were aware of PrEP, none had used it before. AGYW’s awareness of PrEP was significantly associated with a positive STI diagnosis and a higher education level. Conclusions: This study highlights the elevated HIV vulnerability among AGYW in Cameroon, along with low PrEP awareness, particularly among those with lower education levels and those who have not undergone HIV testing. These findings underscore the necessity of developing targeted interventions to mitigate these risks for AGYW in Cameroon.