title: Misunderstanding of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Public Health and Policy Implications.
abstract: Street markets in antiretroviral medications for HIV have been documented, but sources of demand are not well understood. We report unexpected findings from qualitative research suggesting that some demand is for informal pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
  
  
  
  Focus groups with young men who have sex with men (N = 31) yielded information on their understanding and use of PrEP.
  
  
  
  Of those who had heard of it, few understood PrEP to be a physician-prescribed regimen; most believed it to be a pill taken before and/or after sex and acquired on the street or through HIV-positive friends.
  
  
  
  Implications for PrEP rollout and public health policy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: ARSH: Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, Nova Southeastern University , Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.affiliation: ARSH: Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, Nova Southeastern University , Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
authors.forename: Mance E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Buttram
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032882:Comprehension; D005431:Florida; D058015:Health Communication; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D065129:Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health; D036301:Qualitative Research; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV prevention; MSM; PrEP; drug diversion