應用M痘（Mpox）疫苗接種機會轉介暴露愛滋病毒前預防性投藥之經驗分享暨與原收案管道之社會人口學及行為變項比較

Comparison of Sociodemographic and Behavioral Variables between individuals enrolled for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis(PrEP) against HIV using Mpox vaccination Opportunities versus Traditional Recruitment Channels

我國於2015年即參考世界衛生組織建議，將暴露愛滋病毒前預防性投藥（pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP）策略納入愛滋防治策略之一，並於2016年起開始推動相關計畫。2023年2月起本土出現M痘（Mpox）疫情，在執行M痘疫情防治作為，積極宣導接種M痘疫苗的同時，也以M痘接種意願登記平台，讓民眾自填是否有意願收到疾病管制署提供之PrEP相關訊息，讓有需求者有管道可連結PrEP資源，進而有機會瞭解PrEP對自身健康的保護而選擇加入暴露愛滋病毒前預防性投藥公費計畫，使加入計畫人數增加，降低愛滋感染風險。同時也比較透過既有管道或經由M痘疫苗接種意願平台轉介加入PrEP計畫之民眾之社會人口學或風險行為等差異。
研究結果顯示，加入PrEP計畫的參與者主要是高風險行為族群，他們的特徵，包括：性行為頻率高、有性病史、或與愛滋感染者有性接觸等。此外，透過M痘疫苗接種意願平台加入PrEP計畫的參與者，相較於以既有一般管道加入者，有較少的風險行為。然而，性少數群體的參與仍然存在一定的挑戰，例如女性或跨性別者的參與率較低，這可能與其對性健康知識和行為的認知有關，以及數位落差等因素有關。
本研究強調透過共病防治如M痘疫情，能有效觸及並提供高風險行為族群PrEP等預防知能與資源，並可考量對於女性或跨性別族群等進行進一步調查或研究，以了解加入PrEP計畫人數落差的原因等，以回饋政策規劃及設計。

In 2015, Taiwan adopted pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of its HIV prevention strategy, launching the program in 2016. In response to a domestic Mpox outbreak in February 2023, proactive measures were implemented, including a public campaign promoting Mpox vaccination. Additionally, a registration platform was created for individuals to indicate their intent to receive the Mpox vaccine, which also allowed them to express interest in receiving PrEP information from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This platform served as a conduit for individuals to access PrEP resources, thereby increasing awareness of the protective benefits of PrEP and potentially boosting enrollment in the publicly funded PrEP program. The study compared the sociodemographic characteristics and risk behaviors of individuals who enrolled in the PrEP program via traditional channels with those referred from the Mpox vaccine registration platform.
Findings indicate that PrEP program participants primarily belonged to high-risk behavior groups, characterized by high sexual activity, a history of sexually transmitted infections, or sexual contact with HIV-positive individuals. Notably, participants who enrolled through the Mpox vaccine registration platform exhibited fewer risk behaviors than those who joined through traditional channels. However, the study also identified ongoing challenges in engaging certain minority groups, such as women and transgender individuals, whose participation rates remained low. This disparity may be influenced by factors such as differing levels of sexual health awareness and behaviors, as well as the digital divide.
This research highlights the effectiveness of leveraging comorbidity prevention efforts, such as those targeting the Mpox outbreak, to provide high-risk behavior groups with PrEP-related knowledge and resources. It also suggests the need for further investigation into the lower enrollment rates among women and transgender individuals to inform future policy planning and program design.