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Perceived Likelihood of Using HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Medications Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

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Abstract

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a new strategy for reducing the risk of HIV infection; however, questions about the likelihood of use remain. As part of an ongoing longitudinal study of YMSM, interest in PrEP use under various conditions of side-effects, dosing, and effectiveness were assessed. Participants aged 16–20 living in Chicago and the surrounding areas were recruited beginning December 2009, using a modified form of respondent driven sampling. A cross-sectional sample of 171 HIV negative YMSM interviewed approximately 6 months after initial enrollment was analyzed. This sample was somewhat interested in adopting PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy, particularly if the dosing and side-effects burden was low and the perceived benefits were high. PrEP interest was unrelated with drug use and number of sexual partners, but negatively correlated with number of unprotected anal sex acts. The scale was positively associated with intentions for use in specific risk situations.

RESUMEN

Profilaxis de Pre-exposición (PrEP) es una estrategia para reducir el riesgo de infección de VIH; sin embargo, existen dudas sobre la probabilidad de su uso. Interés en el uso de PrEP, tomando en cuenta los efectos secundarios, dosificación y eficacia, fueron evaluados en un grupo de hombres jóvenes que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres (HJSH). Estos participantes están inscritos en un estudio longitudinal. Para ser incluido, participantes tenían que estar entre 16 a 20 años de edad y residir en la cuidad de Chicago a partir de Diciembre 2009. Los participantes fueron reclutados utilizando un variante del método respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Se realizó un estudio transversal con una muestra de 171 HJSH seronegativos para el análisis. Los participantes fueron entrevistados aproximadamente 6 meses después de la inscripción inicial. Los resultados indicaron que esta población está algo interesado en la adaptación de PrEP como una estrategia de prevención del VIH. El interés sube cuando se percibe como baja la carga de efectos secundarios y la dosificación y los beneficios altos. El consumo de drogas y el número de parejas sexuales no estaba relacionado con interés en PrEP. Además el numero de actos de sexo anal sin protección estaba negativamente correlacionado con el interés en PrEP. La escala tenia una asociación positiva con la intención de utilizar PrEp en situaciones de riesgo sexual.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (R01DA025548). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 625 N Michigan Ave Suite 2700, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Brian Mustanski, Daniel Ryan & Michelle Birkett

  2. Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA

    Amy K. Johnson & Robert Garofalo

Authors
  1. Brian Mustanski
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  2. Amy K. Johnson
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  3. Robert Garofalo
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  4. Daniel Ryan
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  5. Michelle Birkett
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian Mustanski.

Appendix

Appendix

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Questionnaire

Although there is no drug which can protect you from getting HIV, scientists are busy researching ways to make one. The following questions are about how you would feel about taking a medication which could prevent you from getting HIV, if it was created.

When answering these questions, remember that in order for any drug to be effective, you have to take it as prescribed. You would always have to take the medication as prescribed or it might not work. Also bear in mind that this medication would only work to protect you from HIV, it would not protect you from other sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Response options: 1 = Not at all likely, 2 = Somewhat likely, 3 = Very likely.

  1. (1)

    If there was a drug available that would keep you from getting HIV, how likely is it that you would take it?

  2. (2)

    How likely would you be to take a drug that protects you from getting HIV if it caused side effects like dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, rash, gas or skin discoloration?

  3. (3)

    How likely would you be to take a drug that protects you from getting HIV if you had to take it every day in order for it to be effective?

  4. (4)

    How likely would you be to take a drug that protects you from getting HIV if you had to take it 3 times a week in order for it to be effective?

  5. (5)

    How likely would you be to take a drug that protects you from getting HIV if you had to take more than 1 pill a day in order for it to be effective?

  6. (6)

    How likely would you be to take a single dose of a drug that protects you from getting HIV the day before you had unprotected sex?

  7. (7)

    How likely would you be to take a drug that protects you from getting HIV if you had to take it for 28 days after unprotected sex?

  8. (8)

    How likely would you be to take a drug that reduces your risk of getting HIV by 50 %?

  9. (9)

    How likely would you be to use a condom when having sex if you were taking a medication that reduced your risk of getting HIV?

  10. (10)

    How likely would you be to take a drug that protects you from getting HIV if you were in a monogamous relationship with a partner you knew was HIV-infected?

  11. (11)

    How likely would you be to take a drug that protects you from getting HIV if you only had casual sexual partners?

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Mustanski, B., Johnson, A.K., Garofalo, R. et al. Perceived Likelihood of Using HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Medications Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men. AIDS Behav 17, 2173–2179 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0359-y

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