IMPRESS: Indonesian MSM PrEP and Sexual Practices Survey
Indonesia has rapidly expanded access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but important evidence gaps remain. National data are limited on whether PrEP is reaching gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), what prevents people from starting or continuing PrEP, and how PrEP fits alongside other HIV prevention practices. There is also insufficient information about which PrEP products, providers and service-delivery models communities prefer. Without current, community-level evidence, it is difficult to determine whether expanded availability is translating into equitable and responsive HIV prevention.
IMPRESS was a national online survey that examined PrEP use and broader HIV prevention practices among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Indonesia. It combined anonymous participation with community-led and social media recruitment to reach participants across diverse locations. By using measures comparable with earlier surveys (including APMIS and PrEP APPEAL), the project enabled changes in PrEP awareness, use and unmet need to be tracked over time. It also examined barriers and preferences for different PrEP products, providers and service models, generating practical evidence to support more accessible, responsive and community-informed HIV prevention programs.
IMPRESS was an anonymous, cross-sectional online survey conducted across Indonesia in 2026. Eligible participants were adults living in Indonesia who identified as gay or bisexual men, or as men who have sex with men. Recruitment combined community-led outreach in more than 30 districts and cities with advertising on social media and community platforms. The survey examined PrEP awareness and use, barriers, HIV prevention practices, and preferences for PrEP products, providers and service-delivery models.
IMPRESS successfully recruited 2,247 participants from 29 out of 38 Indonesian provinces over six weeks in 2026, 1,643 of whom were not HIV-positive and were eligible for the PrEP module. This strong recruitment was supported by partnerships with community organisations in more than 30 districts and cities, alongside promotion through social media and online platforms. This survey represented the third national internet survey among GBMSM in Indonesia in the span of 7 years, demonstrating the feasibility of conducting repeated large-scale, anonymous community-based survey to describe a national trend in HIV prevention.
IMPRESS strengthened the evidence available to guide the next phase of Indonesia’s PrEP program. By identifying where needs remained unmet and which products and service models communities considered acceptable, the project supported more accessible, affordable and community-responsive HIV prevention. The findings were intended to assist policymakers, service providers and community organisations to refine outreach, diversify delivery options and direct resources towards populations and locations with the greatest need. More broadly, the project established a model for repeated community-based monitoring, helping to ensure that future PrEP expansion would be evaluated not only by service availability, but also by how effectively it met community needs.
• Center for Public Health Innovation, Udayana University (https://inovasikesehatan.net/)
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney
- Australia Award Indonesia’s Hadi Soesastro Prize
