PrEP awareness, barriers and facilitators in Malaysia in the current landscape of new HIV infections: a review

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake remains low among key populations in Malaysia despite notable improvements in PrEP awareness. This literature review aims to understand PrEP awareness, barriers and facilitators that influence PrEP utilisation. PrEP awareness ranged between 20 and 85%, whereas uptake ranged between 8 and 18.3%. Reported barriers included cost, limited accessibility, poor PrEP literacy, potential side-effects, daily pill burden, along with stigma and discrimination. Potential facilitators, such as digital health interventions, pharmacy-led PrEP services, HIV testing integration and interest in long-acting injectable formulation of PrEP, could eliminate underlying barriers Malaysian key populations experience and encourage PrEP adoption.