{
  "abstract": "Background Dissemination of sexual health prevention knowledge and implementation of tools such as PrEP, PEP, and HIV testing are still scarce in key vulnerable populations at-risk of acquiring HIV infection, such as young people and women. Large-scale initiatives like European Testing Week (ETW) may help identify missing key populations not reached by current preventive campaigns and interventions.Material and Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Rome during the ETW campaign in 2024 (with LGBTI and gender-violence advocacy organisations) and 2025 (with family counselling clinics). Sociodemographic characteristics, risk behaviors, HIV prevention knowledge of the key HIV-prevention concepts (PrEP, PEP, and U=U), and reasons for testing were collected through a standardised assessment. Baseline HIV and syphilis prevalence were determined using rapid POC tests. Logistic regression and multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the overall and topic-specific appropriate knowledge.Results Of 397 individuals enrolled (290 in 2024, 107 in 2025), participants in 2025 were younger, more often cis women, and less often university-educated (all p-values <0.001; table 1). A previous STI was reported in 29.9% of cases overall (36.8% in 2024 vs 10.2% in 2025; p<0.001).First-ever HIV testing occurred in 43.3% overall and was higher in those observed in 2025 (72.0% vs 32.8%; p<0.001). The main reason for testing was personal willingness (82.8%; 97.1% vs 77.6%), followed by recent at-risk exposure (11.4%, mainly 2024) (p<0.001). Rapid testing identified 2 reactive HIV results (0.5%), both in people tested in 2024.Knowledge of prevention tools was limited overall and lower in the population accessing in 2025. (figure 1). Awareness of doxycycline PEP was rare (4.0%), precluding regression analyses. In multivariable analysis, older age was independently associated with greater overall knowledge of prevention tools (35-44 years: aOR 2.89, 95%CI 1.10-7.58, p 0.03, 45-59 years: aOR 7.962, 95%CI 2.319, 27.333, p <0.001). Table 2 shows predictors of knowledge of each HIV prevention topic.Conclusions The ETW campaign may reach underserved populations and identify many first-time testers, particularly younger individuals. Knowledge gaps were evident among younger people and in groups with lower educational levels, highlighting the need to expand sexual health education and develop tailored prevention strategies integrated within testing initiatives. Different outreach settings engaged distinct profiles, reinforcing the value of combining rapid testing with setting-specific education.Abstract OC31 Table 1–2Abstract OC31 Figure 1Knowledge and appropriateness by prevention tool across groups",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "G Micheli"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "R Esvan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "G Frate"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "V Barchi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "F Cannone"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "D Farinacci"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "R Speranza"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "RJ Steiner"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "O Bruzzi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "A Giacinta"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "S Onori"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "A Antinori"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani - IRCCS, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "V Mazzotta"
    }
  ],
  "title": "OC31 Awareness of key prevention tools in sexual health: comparison of key groups from a cross-sectional survey during European testing week in Rome (let’s test! study)",
  "uid": "16fa40d5-fbec-5a5c-9983-ce09f8307120"
}