High Prevalence of Indications for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among People Who Inject Drugs in Boston, Massachusetts

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Am J Prev Med
• Personal Author:
  Earlywine, Joel J. ; Bazzi, Angela R. ; Biello, Katie B. ; Klevens, R. Monina
• Description:
  Introduction:
  
  In Massachusetts, recent outbreaks of HIV have been fueled by injection and sexual exposures among people who inject drugs (PWID). Understanding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) need, knowledge, and use among PWID will help inform and evaluate interventions.
  
  Methods:
  
  In 2019, investigators analyzed 2018 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance data from PWID in Boston, Massachusetts, who met eligibility criteria. Proportions of PWID with U.S Preventive Services Task Force–based PrEP indication were estimated by types of HIV acquisition risk in the past year: injection exposure only, sexual exposure only, and overlapping injection and sexual exposures. Investigators then evaluated PrEP awareness, conversations with healthcare providers about PrEP, and self-reported PrEP use among those with and without PrEP indications.
  
  Results:
  
  The prevalence of PrEP indication was 92% overall (389/423), with 290 (69%) indicated for injection exposures only, 3 (<1%) indicated for sexual exposures only, and 96 (23%) indicated for both injection and sexual exposures. Among those indicated for PrEP (n=389), 152 (39%) reported being aware of PrEP, 41 (11%) had discussed PrEP with a healthcare provider, and 8 (2%) had used PrEP in the past year. There were no statistically significant differences between PrEP-indicated and non-indicated PWID with respect to PrEP awareness, discussion with a healthcare provider, and PrEP use.
  
  Conclusions:
  
  Indication for PrEP was high but awareness was low, conversations about PrEP with healthcare providers were uncommon, and PrEP use was extremely low. These findings highlight important areas for clinical and community-based interventions to improve PrEP uptake among and delivery to PWID.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Article Boston HIV Infections Humans Massachusetts Pharmaceutical Preparations Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Prevalence Substance Abuse, Intravenous
• Source:
  Am J Prev Med. 60(3):369-378
• Pubmed ID:
  33229144
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC7902399
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  K01 DA043412/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; P30 AI042853/AI/NIAID NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01 DA051849/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; U62 PS005074/PS/NCHHSTP CDC HHSUnited States/
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  60
• Issue:
  3
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:b20773be79f07b244f0569c902f8069aaab982c56323ddd1705b2795ef184cdd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/103799/cdc_103799_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 179.94 KB ]