Abstract
Objective: To describe the sociodemographic profile of individuals who initiated PEP after risk exposure at a referral center. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study using data from patients who sought care for evaluation of PEP indication in 2023. Results: A total of 805 consultations were analyzed, involving 645 patients. Consensual sexual exposure was the most prevalent risk category (59.2%), followed by occupational exposure (25.9%) and sexual violence (14.1%). Most patients were residents of Fortaleza. Among them, 185 had records of previous PEP-related visits. In 57 consultations (7.1%), PEP was not indicated. Four patients were diagnosed with HIV during the initial laboratory evaluation for PEP. An additional five patients initiated antiretroviral therapy in periods subsequent to their consultations. A low percentage of outpatient follow-up and subsequent referrals for PrEP was also observed (18%). Final considerations: The findings highlight the need to strengthen outpatient follow-up, enhance counseling on combination prevention strategies, and establish effective transition pathways to PrEP.