Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis awareness and uptake in Asia (DoxyAsia)

This project, titled "Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis awareness and uptake in Asia (DoxyAsia)," is a study led by the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) and Monash University in Australia, in collaboration with institutions across 16 countries/regions in Asia. Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP) is a new biomedical strategy for STIs that involves taking doxycycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, within 72 hours after sex without a condom. While clinical trials show doxyPEP significantly reduces the risk of bacterial STIs, such as syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea, its long-term impact on antibiotic resistance is unclear and warrants careful monitoring. The study addresses the limited research on doxyPEP in Asia, as most existing studies were conducted in Western and high-income countries. The primary aim of this study is to understand the awareness, uptake, and access of doxyPEP among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in Asia. The secondary aims are to explore the awareness, uptake, and access of doxyPEP among other at-risk populations, such as women and transgender people, and to understand the views, practices, and concerns regarding the prescription of doxyPEP among healthcare providers in Asia. The research method is an anonymous online cross-sectional survey administered through the Qualtrics platform. The anticipated benefit is leading to new knowledge about gaps in the community’s knowledge and concerns about doxyPEP.