Knowledge, Attitudes, and Acceptability of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Individuals Living with HIV in an Urban HIV Clinic

Abstract

IntroductionPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective tool to reduce HIV transmission. The primary objective of this study was to assess awareness of PrEP by individuals living with HIV (HIV+) and acceptance of its use for their HIV negative (HIV-) partners.MethodsA cross sectional survey was conducted among individuals living with HIV who received care at an urban HIV clinic between January 2013 and June 2013. The survey examined knowledge, attitudes, and acceptability of PrEP, and perception of transmission risk of HIV. Chi-Square test and Fisher's Exact test were used to compare proportions.ResultsAmong 206 subjects living with HIV, 15.3% (32) had heard of PrEP. Men who have sex with men (MSM) were more likely to be aware of PrEP than all others (p = 0.003). Once educated about PrEP those who believed PrEP would reduce their partner’s risk for HIV were more likely to recommend PrEP to their partner (p<0.001). 92% of all respondents said they would be “extremely likely/likely” to discuss PrEP use with their provider. Of 159 subjects whose main partner was HIV-, MSM (p = 0.007), male participants (p = 0.044), and those who were consistently taking meds (p = 0.049) were more likely to be aware of PrEP. Those who perceived they were at risk of transmitting HIV (p<0.001) and those who were consistently taking meds (0.049) were more likely to agree that PrEP could reduce the risk of HIV to their partners.ConclusionThis study illustrates a low awareness of PrEP but once educated the willingness of a cohort of individuals living with HIV to recommend PrEP to their partners. Our findings demonstrate the importance of providers informing their patients living with HIV about PrEP, as these persons are an underutilized link to support the uptake of PrEP by their HIV- partners.

PrEP awareness and decision-making for Latino MSM in San Antonio, Texas

“…Future studies should include questions about government and medical provider mistrust issues for all participants. PLWH were also excluded from completing the PrEP survey, but a study indicated that PLWH play a critical role on recommending PrEP to their sexual partner [ 56 ]. Therefore, further research on PrEP awareness is needed as well as potential roles PLWH are able to provide for promoting PrEP as a biomedical intervention for high-risk populations.…”

An Electronic Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Initiation and Maintenance Home Care System for Nonurban Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Safety outcomes will include acute HIV symptoms assessed with a checklist of 17 symptoms and criteria identified by Braun [22] and the presence of more common adverse effects identified on the medication label. A number of domains of the study’s theoretical model will be assessed to explore the context of the intervention performance: PrEP perceptions and PrEP use adapted from NHBS and other sources [10,23], depression [24], illicit and nonprescription drug use [25], sexual stigma [26], HIV severity and risk perceptions [27], HIV knowledge [25], medication adherence self-efficacy [28], the Systems Usability Scale [29,30], insurance coverage [14], use of social and geosocial networking sites [14], and the depth of clinician-patient relationship [31,32]. We will also seek to understand rationales for those who fail to persist in PrEP, assessing perceptions of PrEP barriers and concerns [33,34].…”

Stigma, Partners, Providers and Costs: Potential Barriers to PrEP Uptake among US Women

“…The reasons for this disparity remain unclear. Several studies have shown that PrEP awareness is markedly low among women [ 9 - 11 ]. This lack of awareness is further complicated by results from the VOICE and FEM-PrEP studies, which failed to demonstrate significant reductions in HIV seroconversion among women [ 12 - 14 ].…”