Abstract:

Improved implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should be a valuable tool within communities experiencing high HIV incidence, such as black men who have sex with men (MSM). Using baseline data from the Chicago arm of the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP), we examined awareness and use of PrEP within HIV potential transmission networks. Transmission Reduction Intervention Project recruited participants ages 18-69 (N = 218) during 2014-2016 from networks originating from recently and chronically HIV-infected MSM and transgender persons. In total, 53.2% of participants had heard of PrEP, while 8 (6.5%) HIV-negative participants reported ever using PrEP. In multivariable regression, PrEP awareness was associated with identifying as gay, attending some college or higher, having an HIV test in the previous 6 months, and experiencing HIV-related social support. PrEP awareness was not associated with experiencing or observing HIV-related stigma. PrEP use was associated with participants knowing two or more other PrEP-users. These findings demonstrate moderate awareness, but low uptake of PrEP within HIV potential transmission networks in Chicago. Future research should explore how to increase PrEP use in these networks and investigate the social dynamics behind our finding that PrEP users are more likely to know other PrEP users.

Notes:

1573-3254Schueler, KellieFerreira, MatthewNikolopoulos, GeorgiosSkaathun, BrittParaskevis, DimitriosHatzakis, AngelosFriedman, Samuel RSchneider, John AOrcid: 0000-0002-7870-5639P30 DA011041/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United StatesR01 AI136056/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United StatesR01AI136056/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/DP1DA034989-01/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United StatesT32 AI007384/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United StatesDP1 DA034989/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United StatesJournal ArticleAIDS Behav. 2019 Jul;23(7):1893-1903. doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02411-0.