Examining the Potential of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention in a Community Sample of Persons Who Use Stimulants Living in the Southern United States

In this study, we examined PrEP awareness and acceptability in persons with biologically confirmed HIV-negative status who use stimulant drugs. We also examined HIV risk behaviors to identify how many participants met behavioral eligibility for PrEP. The sample of 352 participants was 46% female, 87% African American, and 45.69  years old on average. Over half the sample (n = 213) met criteria for PrEP candidacy, but less than 20% had heard of PrEP. Ratings for willingness to take PrEP were high. PrEP candidates reported more frequent and problematic stimulant use relative to non-candidates. Our results show that persons who use stimulants are a high-risk populati on that could benefit significantly from PrEP. Efforts to increase PrEP awareness among high-risk populations are critical for facilitating PrEP implementation and ensuring effective HIV prevention within these communities.
Source: AIDS and Behavior - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research