Unmet needs for PrEP among female sex workers in Tanzania

This review examines the critical unmet needs for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among female sexual workers in Tanzania, highlighting key barriers to uptake and key actions for improvement. Key findings reveal that lack of awareness and knowledge, stigma and discrimination, and accessibility and affordability challenges hinder PrEP utilization. Perspectives from both female sex workers and healthcare providers reveal complex individual, community, and systemic factors contributing to the persistent gap in PrEP utilization. Addressing the unmet PrEP needs requires a multi-faceted approach involving improving awareness and knowledge, tackling stigma and discrimination, enhancing affordability and accessibility, and strengthening healthcare provider capacity. The implications of addressing these challenges extend to reducing HIV transmission rates and advancing the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic among marginalized populations in Tanzania.