Trends in Awareness and Use of HIV PrEP Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men who have Sex with Men in Vancouver, Canada 2012–2016

Date

2018

Authors

Mosley, Terrance
Khaketla, Moliehi
Armstrong, Heather L.
Cui, Zishan
Sereda, Paul
Lachowsky, Nathan J.
Hull, Mark W.
Olarewaju, Gbolahan
Jollimore, Jody
Edward, Joshua

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

AIDS and Behavior

Abstract

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) are at the highest risk for HIV infection in British Columbia (BC). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been recently licensed but is currently not publicly funded in BC. Using respondent-driven sampling, we recruited a cohort of gbMSM to complete a computer-assisted self-interview with follow-up every six months. Stratified by HIV status, we examined trends in awareness of PrEP from 11/2012–02/2016 and factors associated with PrEP awareness. 732 participants responded to the PrEP awareness question. Awareness of PrEP among HIV-negative men increased from 18% to 80% (p<0.0001 for trend); among HIV-positive men, awareness increased from 36% to 77% (p<0.0001). PrEP awareness was associated with factors related to HIV risk including sero-adaptive strategies and sexual sensation seeking. Eight HIV-negative men reported using PrEP. Low PrEP uptake highlights that PrEP access should be expanded for at-risk gbMSM in BC.

Description

The authors would like to thank the Momentum Health Study participants, office staff, and community advisory board, as well as our community partner agencies, Health Initiative for Men, YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society, and Positive Living Society of BC.

Keywords

HIV/AIDS, pre-exposure prophylaxis, men who have sex with men, primary prevention, longitudinal data

Citation

Mosley, T., Khaketla, M., Armstrong, H. L., Cui, Z., Sereda, P., Lachowsky, N. J., Hull, M. W., Olarewaju, G., Jollimore, J., Edward, J., Montaner, J. S. G., Hogg, R. S., Roth, E. A., & Moore, D. M. (2018). “Trends in Awareness and Use of HIV PrEP Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men who have Sex with Men in Vancouver, Canada 2012–2016.” AIDS and Behavior, 22, 3550-3565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2026-4