Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Awareness and Use Among Cisgender Men Who Have Sex With Men and Use Methamphetamine in 3 Western US Cities

Authors

Vanessa McMahan, University of Washington
Courtney Moreno, HIV/STD Program, Public Health – Seattle & King County
Alia Al-Tayyib, Denver Public Health, Denver Health and Hospital Authority
Timothy Menza, Oregon Health Authority
Edwin Roberto Orellana, Portland State UniversityFollow
Amisha Bhattarai, Portland State University
Joanne Stekler, University of Washington
Sara Glick, University of Washington

Published In

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

1-2020

Abstract

Background

In the United States, cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) who use methamphetamine are at substantial risk for HIV and can benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Methods

We used data from the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance 2017 survey from Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and Denver, CO, to estimate PrEP awareness and use in the past 12 months among MSM who use methamphetamine. We then compared these estimates with participants who do not use methamphetamine but meet other criteria for PrEP use (i.e., condomless anal sex or a bacterial sexually transmitted infection). We explored reasons for not using PrEP and challenges using PrEP.

Results

Of the 1602 MSM who participated in the 2017 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance survey in Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and Denver, CO, 881 met the inclusion criteria for this study, of whom 88 (10%) reported methamphetamine use in the past 12 months. Most (95%) participants had heard of PrEP, and 35% had used it in the past 12 months. Pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness was lower among MSM who used methamphetamine (P = 0.01), but use was not different (P = 0.26). Among those who had not used PrEP, the most common reason for not using it was not thinking one's HIV risk was high enough (51%). Men who have sex with men who used methamphetamine were more likely to report that they were not sure PrEP would prevent them from getting HIV (38% vs. 19%, P = 0.002).

Conclusions

These results highlight the need for continued efforts to educate and promote PrEP uptake among MSM, particularly those who use methamphetamine.

Survey results from 3 cities showed that only 35% of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP)–eligible cismen who have sex with men had used PrEP. Awareness and belief in PrEP efficacy were lower among methamphetamine users.

Description

© Copyright 2020 American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association

Locate the Document

http://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001128

DOI

10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001128

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/32843

Citation Details

McMahan, V. M., Moreno, C., Al-Tayyib, A., Menza, T. W., Orellana, E. R., Bhattarai, A., ... & Glick, S. N. (2020). Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Awareness and Use Among Cisgender Men Who Have Sex With Men and Use Methamphetamine in 3 Western US Cities. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 47(4), 217-223.