Intervening factors with HIV PrEP discontinuation: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE

To map scientific publications investigating the factors contributing to the discontinuation of PrEP use for HIV.

METHOD: This is a scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Between August and December 2025, searches were conducted in the following databases: Medline/PubMed; LILACS; Web of Science; EMBASE; CINAHL; BDENF via the Virtual Health Library; CAPES Theses and Dissertations Catalog; Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations; and Google Scholar. Finally, a reverse search was performed to identify possible additional works. The data were analyzed by numerical and thematic synthesis.

RESULTS

869 studies were identified and, after selection, 21 studies from nine countries were analyzed. The processing resulted in five categories: sexual behaviors; stigma/prejudice; pharmacovigilance; access to health services; and vulnerabilities.

CONCLUSION

Studies from nine countries reveal common patterns, such as lower risk perception, adverse effects, and access barriers, as well as cultural influences and inequalities that amplify vulnerabilities. Thus, the factors contributing to PrEP discontinuation present a multifactorial complexity. Additionally, the absence of an operational parameter for the concept of PrEP discontinuation was observed, limiting more consistent analyses and more precise monitoring of these users, aiming at reducing avoidable seroconversion.