Towards Preparedness for PrEP: PrEP Awareness & Acceptability among MSM at High Risk of HIV Transmission Who Use Sociosexual Media in Four Celtic Nations: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland & the Republic of Ireland: An Online Survey

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the awareness and acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and use sociosexual media at high risk of HIV infection in four Celtic nations.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS:

Online self-complete survey of 386 HIV-negative/status unknown MSM who reported condomless anal intercourse (CAI) with ≥2 men in the last year, recruited from gay sociosexual media.

RESULTS:

One-third (34.5%, 132/386) of the participants were aware of PrEP but over half (58.5%, 226/356) reported that they would be willing to use PrEP if it were available to them. Only men who regularly tested for HIV every 6 months were more likely to be aware of PrEP. PrEP acceptability was only associated with reporting ≥5 CAI partners in the last year.

CONCLUSIONS:

Low levels of PrEP awareness were reported across these Celtic nations. Only one-third of high-risk MSM had heard of PrEP but over one-half would be willing to take a daily pill to prevent HIV infection. Sociodemographic factors, commercial gay scene proximity and social network use were unrelated to considering PrEP use. However, those reporting most CAI partners were more likely to consider PrEP use.

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By:  Frankis JS1, Young I2, Lorimer K1, Davis M3, Flowers P1.

• 1School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
• 2MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
• 3School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 
• Sex Transm Infect. 2016 Jan 22. pii: sextrans-2015-052101. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2015-052101.

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