Introduction:

The number of HIV cases continues to rise globally, disproportionately in men who have sex with men and other vulnerable populations, despite the development of multiple prevention strategies. Among these strategies, HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) stands out, although underutilized, is at the center of the prevention cascade. By following its protocol, users are tested and may be referred to prophylaxis, treatment (if necessary) and even offered to other strategies, thus being a multipotent tool for interrupting the HIV transmission chain. Thus, our study aimed to explore access to health services that offer Postexposure HIV Prophylaxis and the technologies available to help it.

Methods:

Two sequential steps were carried out 1st - Exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach and 2nd - Technology Prospection Study. The research followed the ethical guidelines on research with human beings, regulated by resolution 466/12 and approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Nursing School of Ribeirão Preto/USP (opinion nº3.280,490). The qualitative study aimed to explore the barriers to accessing HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis perceived by users and professionals in specialized health services. For this, an exploratory research with a qualitative approach was carried out. The research participants were medical professionals and nurses involved in the prophylaxis protocol in Reference Centers and prevention users, totaling 10 participants, a sample defined by data saturation. The recorded interviews were transcribed and later processed by the Descending Hierarchical Classification and by Similitude analysis. The prospect was guided by the objective of identifying and analyzing mobile apps that address PEP for HIV infections. We conducted a descriptive exploratory study in 3 sequential phases systematic literature review, patent analysis and systematic search of app stores. For the systematic review, we followed the Preferred Reporting Items guidelines for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes adapted for an integrative review in the PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, Science Direct, Eric, Treasure and CINAHL databases.

Results:

Five classes were obtained Information; Access centralization; Service flow; Interpersonal relationships in health services and Difficulties and Barriers. There are several factors that hinder access to prevention that permeate knowledge, reception, and dissemination of information. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these problems are aggravated and increase the vulnerability of possible users of prophylaxis. In the search for technologies that would aid access to PEP, the apps found only inform about the prevention and treatment of HIV, targeting health professionals, people with HIV or the general population, but with only available resources limited, that is, mainly text, images, and videos. The three applications with an exclusive focus on PEP were created by researchers from Brazilian universities.

Conclusion:

Access to HIV post-exposure prophylaxis faces challenges and barriers, ranging from the lack of knowledge about prophylaxis, which makes it impossible to pursue it, to the centralization of health services and stigmas that permeate the structures of health services. Our review found no connection between scientific studies, registered patents, and available applications related to PEP; this finding indicates that these available applications do not have a theoretical or methodological basis in their creation.