title: Awareness of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Is Low but Interest Is High Among Men Engaging in Condomless Anal Sex With Men in Boston, Pittsburgh, and San Juan.
abstract: This study examines awareness of and experiences with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among 228 men recruited in Boston, Pittsburgh, and San Juan between 12/2010 and 6/2012. All of them reported having condomless anal sex with a man in the prior year. Overall, 41% had heard of PEP, ranging from 16% in San Juan to 64% in Boston. Only 21% had heard of PrEP, ranging from 8% in San Juan to 36% in Boston. Three had used PEP, and none had used PrEP. After the methods were described to participants, interest in both was high, with intentions to use PEP and PrEP respectively at 9.1 and 7.7 (10-point scale). Increased public education is needed to raise awareness of these HIV prevention methods, especially among MSM who acknowledge potential risk behavior. It also seems likely that many such men would use these methods once they become aware of them.
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York.
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dolezal
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frasca
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giguere
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York.
authors.forename: Mobolaji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibitoye
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cranston
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gama Project, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Febo
authors.affiliation: Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Kenneth H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carballo-Diéguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001900:Boston; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D065129:Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult