PrEP Awareness Is Low Among Heterosexual People

AbstractTransgender women face a serious risk of HIV infection. Despite this, there is limited knowledge and use of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We measured the continuity of prevention across services in the PrEP cascade and correlates of PrEP use among trans women in San Francisco enrolled in the 2019/20 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Study. Knowledge and use of PrEP among trans women in San Francisco increased in recent years; almost all (94.0%) had heard about PrEP, 64.7% had discussed PrEP with a healthcare provider, and 44.8% had taken PrEP in the past 12 months. PrEP use was associated with participation in a PrEP demonstration project (aOR = 31.44, p = 0.001) and condomless receptive anal intercourse (aOR = 3.63, p = 0.024). Injection drug use was negatively associated (aOR = 0.19, p = 0.014). Efforts are needed to combat the gender-based stigma and discrimination faced by trans women, which can result in avoidance and mistrust of the medical system.

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“PrEP”ing for a PrEP demonstration project: understanding PrEP knowledge and attitudes among cisgender women

BMC Women s Health ◽

10.1186/s12905-021-01348-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth C. Pasipanodya ◽

Jamila Stockman ◽

Thupten Phuntsog ◽

Sheldon Morris ◽

Christina Psaros ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Los Angeles ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Knowledge And Attitudes ◽

Women Living With Hiv ◽

Effective Interventions ◽

Hiv Serostatus ◽

Prep Awareness ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

Competing Priorities ◽

And Control

Abstract Background Prior to implementing a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstration study, we sought to explore cisgender women’s experiences with HIV prevention, PrEP knowledge and attitudes, and anticipated barriers and facilitators for PrEP uptake and adherence in Southern California. Methods Three focus groups were held with cisgender women of mixed HIV serostatus in San Diego and Los Angeles between November 2015 and January 2016. Women were recruited through local testing sites, community-based organizations, and social media. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Twenty-two women participated in focus groups, with median age 44 (IQR 30–53) and 6 identifying as non-Hispanic Black, 7 non-Hispanic White, 8 Latina and 1 mixed race. Despite limited prior PrEP knowledge and no PrEP experience, participants expressed interest in taking PrEP. Anticipated benefits were freedom from worry about HIV and control over sexual health; however, these were tempered by concerns including the possibility of increased HIV risk behaviors and potential side effects. Cisgender women reported potential barriers to PrEP uptake and adherence barriers, like competing priorities and poor PrEP access. Conversely, PrEP facilitators included utilizing practical tools such as phone apps and pill boxes as well as receiving encouragement from loved ones and support from other cisgender women on PrEP, women living with HIV and their medical providers. Conclusions Although PrEP awareness was low, participants recognized the importance of PrEP and ways to facilitate adherence. Exploring perspectives of cisgender women is integral to developing effective interventions to support PrEP uptake and adherence for women at elevated risk for HIV.

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Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in a Sample of Italian Men Who Have SEX with MEN (MSM)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094772 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4772

Author(s):

Gianluca Voglino ◽

Maria Rosaria Gualano ◽

Stefano Rousset ◽

Pietro Forghieri ◽

Isabella Fraire ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Immune Deficiency Syndrome ◽

Deficiency Syndrome ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prep Awareness ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

The Cost ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is suitable for high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection risk people, foremost among whom are males who have sex with other males (MSM). This study evaluated knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding PrEP in a sample of Italian MSM, in order to hypothesize strategies to implement PrEP awareness and use. No previous study has assessed this issue; Methods: An online survey was given to an opportunistic sample of Italian MSM. The questionnaire investigated sexual behaviour and habits, HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) knowledge and PrEP awareness, attitudes and practices. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to identify factors associated with PrEP knowledge; Results: A total of 196 MSM participated in this survey. Overall data showed that 87.2% of participants knew what PrEP is, but only 7.5% have ever used it. The main reason for not using PrEP was the cost of the therapy (26.9%). The principal source of PrEP information was the Internet (68.4%). Being regularly tested for HIV was significantly associated with PrEP knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (AdjOR) = 3.16; confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–9.29); Conclusions: Knowledge regarding PrEP was well established, but PrEP use was not equally widespread. It is necessary to improve research on PrEP usage in order to PrEP access to be granted.

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HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness and acceptability among trans women: a review

AIDS Care ◽

10.1080/09540121.2019.1612014 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (10) ◽

pp. 1234-1240 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nathália Pacífico de Carvalho ◽

Cássia Cristina Pinto Mendicino ◽

Raissa Carolina Fonseca Cândido ◽

Denyr Jeferson Dutra Alecrim ◽

Cristiane Aparecida Menezes de Pádua

Keyword(s):

Trans Women ◽

Prep Awareness ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

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PrEP awareness, eligibility, and interest among people who inject drugs in Baltimore, Maryland

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.08.014 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 195 ◽

pp. 148-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Susan G. Sherman ◽

Kristin E. Schneider ◽

Ju Nyeong Park ◽

Sean T. Allen ◽

Derrick Hunt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

People Who Inject Drugs ◽

Prep Awareness

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The role of sexual risk behaviors on PrEP awareness and interest among men who have sex with men in Latin America

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/0956462419825944 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 542-549 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alberto Edeza ◽

Omar Galarraga ◽

David Novak ◽

Kenneth Mayer ◽

Joshua Rosenberger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Latin America ◽

Latin American ◽

Online Survey ◽

The United States ◽

Sexual Compulsivity ◽

Transactional Sex ◽

Behavioral Risk ◽

Hazardous Alcohol Use ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prep Awareness

In Latin America, men who have sex with men (MSM) remain disproportionately impacted by HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention tool and has been FDA approved in the United States since 2012, but no Latin American state, with the recent exception of Brazil, has implemented PrEP guidelines. We carried out a multinational online survey of MSM in Latin America (n = 22698) in 2012 to assess whether MSM at highest risk of HIV acquisition (i.e., those engaging in condomless anal sex [CAS; n = 2606] and transactional sex [n = 1488]) had higher levels of awareness of PrEP, PrEP use and interest in participating in a PrEP trial. After adjusting for demographic and psychosocial characteristics including depressive symptoms, hazardous alcohol use, childhood sexual abuse, and sexual compulsivity, transactional sex and CAS were associated with increased PrEP awareness (aOR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.05–1.59, p < .001 and aOR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11–1.34, p < .001, respectively) and PrEP trial interest (aOR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.25–1.71, p < .001 and aOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.57–1.95, p < .001, respectively). Findings demonstrate substantial awareness of and interest in PrEP among MSM with behavioral risk factors for HIV in Latin America, suggesting that this region is primed for PrEP implementation, which has been slow.

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Pre-exposure prophylaxis' knowledge, attitudes, practices amongst italian men who have sex with men

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.877 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

G Voglino ◽

MR Gualano ◽

S Rousset ◽

F Bert ◽

R Siliquini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behaviour ◽

Online Survey ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Barriers To Access ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

High Infection ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prep Awareness ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is suitable for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)high-infection-risk people, foremost amongst males who have sex with other males (MSM). This study evaluated knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding PrEP in a sample of Italian MSM, in order to hypothesize strategies to implement PrEP awareness and use. Methods An online survey was given to an opportunistic sample of Italian MSM. The questionnaire investigated sexual behaviour, knowledge on HIV and PrEP awareness, attitudes and practices. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to identify possible associations with PrEP knowledge. Results A total of 196 MSM completed the survey. Overall data showed very good HIV and safe sexual behaviour knowledge (94.4% of correct answers). Nevertheless, our sample rarely used PrEP because of existing barriers: high therapy price (26.9%)and fear of side effects (23.8%). Only 10.3% of partecipants were informed on HIV and PReP by institutional channels, even less (7.5%) from specialized physicians and general practitioners. The most significant association with PrEP knowledge was having regular HIV-tests (adjusted odds ratio (AdjOR) = 3.16; confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-9.29); Conclusions PreP's Knowledge was well established, but PrEP use was not widespread. It is necessary to improve communication on PrEP and to lower existing barriers in order to grant access to PrEP access. Key messages Barriers to access PrEP have to be lowered. Healthcare personnel has to be involved in PrEP's benefits communication.

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Mapping the Study Characteristics and Topics of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Research Literature: A Scoping Review

AIDS Education and Prevention ◽

10.1521/aeap.2019.31.6.505 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 505-522

Author(s):

Emiko Kamitani ◽

Yuko Mizuno ◽

Megan Wichser ◽

Adebukola H. Adegbite ◽

Julia B. DeLuca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Black Women ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Research Literature ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Research Areas ◽

Study Characteristics ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prep Awareness ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Since WHO released the first PrEP guidance in 2012, the PrEP research literature has rapidly increased, but PrEP uptake is still low. To identify research gaps, this scoping review describes study characteristics, identifies populations, and maps study topics in PrEP publications. We identified 561 PrEP primary studies published in English between 2006 and 2018. The most commonly used study design was cross-sectional. Almost half of studies were conducted in non-U.S. countries and focused on men who have sex with men. We mapped study topics using five categories. The most studied category was Potential PrEP user/prescriber (41.3%) followed by Considerations while on PrEP (28.2%), PrEP efficacy and safety (20.9%), Cost-effectiveness or economic evaluation (5.2%), and Methods of and experiences with PrEP clinical trials (4.2%). Although the PrEP literature has dramatically increased, some research areas (e.g., PrEP awareness in non-U.S. countries, intervention studies to promote PrEP use) and populations (e.g., Black women) are still understudied.

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