{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,19]],"date-time":"2026-10-19T11:42:08Z","timestamp":1792410128855,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"AOSIS","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,4]],"date-time":"2025-06-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748995200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PHCFM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Namibia has made tremendous progress in controlling the HIV epidemic. The progress has resulted in significant incidence and AIDS-related mortality reductions. However, new infections continue to persist.\n\nAim: The study aimed to measure the clients\u2019 retention rate in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care and associated factors.\n\nSetting: Engela District, in Namibia\u2019s Ohangwena region.\n\nMethods: We chose an analytical cross-sectional study design for this study. We selected 275 participants using a proportional stratified random sampling method. We used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data. We employed Chi-square tests and logistic regression for data analysis.\n\nResults: Participants\u2019 retention rate in PrEP care at 3 months was 35.6%, 95% CI (35.2% \u2013 36.0%). Binomial logistic regression showed that men and the unemployed were less likely to be retained in PrEP, crude odds ratio (OR) = 0.52, 95% CI (0.30\u20130.91), and OR = 0.27, 95% CI (0.15\u20130.49), respectively. Participants who were divorced or in a relationship were also less likely to be retained in PrEP care, OR = 0.41, 95% CI (0.18\u20130.96), and OR = 0.43 95% CI (0.23 \u2013 0.80), respectively. Furthermore, participants at Engela District Hospital were less likely to be retained in PrEP care, OR = 0.52, 95% CI (0.29 -0.93).\n\nConclusion: Addressing the specific challenges unemployed individuals face in continuing on PrEP is crucial. Strategies should include decentralising PrEP services in the district and employing community-based models.\n\nContribution: In addition, comprehensive PrEP education targeting men should be provided in diverse settings to improve their PrEP knowledge.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/phcfm.v17i1.4806","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,26]],"date-time":"2025-04-26T09:32:20Z","timestamp":1745659940000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Retention of clients in HIV oral pre-exposure prophylaxis care in Engela, Namibia"],"prefix":"10.4102","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-7379-6348","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kristiana","family":"Kosmas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/016xje988","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Namibia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1827-9551","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Enos","family":"Moyo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/04qzfn040","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of KwaZulu-Natal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5352-5658","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mbuzeleni","family":"Hlongwa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/04qzfn040","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of KwaZulu-Natal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9572-3898","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Perseverance","family":"Moyo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9929-5739","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tafadzwa","family":"Dzinamarira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00g0p6g84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Pretoria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8189-5368","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna","family":"Shilunga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/016xje988","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Namibia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","unstructured":"Joint United Nations Programme on HIV\/AIDS (UNAIDS). 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