. 2024 May 28;28(9):3038–3050. doi: 10.1007/s10461-024-04386-z

Table 3.

Characteristics of included guidelines, policies and strategies

Document	Problem To Be Addressed	Population Description	Discussion Specific to Women
ASHM National PrEP Guidelines	Update of the 2018 ASHM PrEP guidelines, designed to support clinicians in their HIV risk assessment, prescribing, and monitoring of PrEP.	All people at-risk of acquiring HIV, with a specific focus on MSM; trans and gender diverse people; heterosexual people; and people who inject drugs.	• The guidelines make specific reference to PrEP being highly effective among heterosexual men and women and note the need to strengthen current HIV prevention strategies for this population (and others). • Notes that on-demand PrEP should not be prescribed to cisgender women. • Specific section on pregnancy and HIV, noting that women’s risk of HIV increases during pregnancy. • Female sex workers are mentioned, although low rates of HIV are reported among this population. • Provides guidance for heterosexual women to commence PrEP seven days before travelling. • Notes that adherence has been a particular issue for cisgender women using PrEP.
NSW HIV Strategy 2021–2025	The virtual elimination of HIV transmission in NSW.	All people at-risk of or living with HIV. Prevention strategies are specifically targeted toward MSM, but initiative suggested for sex worker peer outreach, Aboriginal services, and Needle and Syringe programs.	This document contains little discussion of women. It does, however, point toward a need for a renewed interest in heterosexual people at-risk of HIV acquisition (including culturally and linguistically diverse people and women who are the sexual partners of MSM). Aboriginal people (gender not specified) are also included as a population requiring renewed focus. Women could be included in a number of the highlighted priority populations: as Aboriginal people; people from or who travel to countries with high HIV prevalence; people who inject drugs; sex workers and their clients; people who are in or have recently been in custodial settings; or sexual partners of members of priority populations.
Eighth National HIV Strategy 2018–2022	Guiding principles to support a high-quality, evidence-based, and equitable response to HIV in Australia.	All people at-risk of or living with HIV. Priority populations include people living with HIV; gay men and other MSM; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; culturally and linguistically diverse people from high HIV prevalence countries, people who travel to these countries, and their partners; sex workers; people who inject drugs; people in custodial settings; and trans and gender diverse people.	While cisgender women are not included as a distinct priority population, this document does acknowledge that women are included within almost all priority populations. Given this, the document emphasises the importance of implementing a gendered lens to all elements of the Australian HIV response. Specific mention is made of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and CALD women’s needs; however, there is no mention of women in relation to PrEP.

Document

Problem To Be Addressed

Population Description

Discussion Specific to Women

ASHM National PrEP Guidelines

Update of the 2018 ASHM PrEP guidelines, designed to support clinicians in their HIV risk assessment, prescribing, and monitoring of PrEP.

All people at-risk of acquiring HIV, with a specific focus on MSM; trans and gender diverse people; heterosexual people; and people who inject drugs.

• The guidelines make specific reference to PrEP being highly effective among heterosexual men and women and note the need to strengthen current HIV prevention strategies for this population (and others).

• Notes that on-demand PrEP should not be prescribed to cisgender women.

• Specific section on pregnancy and HIV, noting that women’s risk of HIV increases during pregnancy.

• Female sex workers are mentioned, although low rates of HIV are reported among this population.

• Provides guidance for heterosexual women to commence PrEP seven days before travelling.

• Notes that adherence has been a particular issue for cisgender women using PrEP.

NSW HIV Strategy 2021–2025

The virtual elimination of HIV transmission in NSW.

All people at-risk of or living with HIV. Prevention strategies are specifically targeted toward MSM, but initiative suggested for sex worker peer outreach, Aboriginal services, and Needle and Syringe programs.

This document contains little discussion of women. It does, however, point toward a need for a renewed interest in heterosexual people at-risk of HIV acquisition (including culturally and linguistically diverse people and women who are the sexual partners of MSM). Aboriginal people (gender not specified) are also included as a population requiring renewed focus.

Women could be included in a number of the highlighted priority populations: as Aboriginal people; people from or who travel to countries with high HIV prevalence; people who inject drugs; sex workers and their clients; people who are in or have recently been in custodial settings; or sexual partners of members of priority populations.

Eighth National HIV Strategy 2018–2022

Guiding principles to support a high-quality, evidence-based, and equitable response to HIV in Australia.

All people at-risk of or living with HIV. Priority populations include people living with HIV; gay men and other MSM; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; culturally and linguistically diverse people from high HIV prevalence countries, people who travel to these countries, and their partners; sex workers; people who inject drugs; people in custodial settings; and trans and gender diverse people.

While cisgender women are not included as a distinct priority population, this document does acknowledge that women are included within almost all priority populations. Given this, the document emphasises the importance of implementing a gendered lens to all elements of the Australian HIV response. Specific mention is made of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and CALD women’s needs; however, there is no mention of women in relation to PrEP.