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Mental Health, Social Influences, and HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Utilization Among Men and Transgender Individuals Screening for HIV Prevention Trials

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Abstract

The effects of mental health comorbidities and social support on the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care continuum are unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional study of men and transgender individuals, ≥ 18 years-old, with ≥ 2 male or transgender partners, or recent condomless anal intercourse. Surveys assessed demographics, mental health treatment, depressive symptomatology, social support, and PrEP-related social contacts. Logistic regression assessed associations between these factors and PrEP uptake and persistence. Participants (n = 247) were 89% cis-male and 46% African-American. Median age was 27 (IQR:23–33). Thirty-seven percent had ever used PrEP, of whom 18% discontinued use. High depressive symptomology was identified in 11% and 9% were receiving mental health treatment. There were no significant associations between depressive symptoms or mental health treatment on the odds of PrEP uptake or discontinuation. Each additional PrEP contact conferred a greater odds of uptake (aOR:1.24, 95% CI: 1.09–1.42). Network-level targets may produce fruitful interventions to increase PrEP uptake.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Sarah M. Wood, Danielle Petsis, Kezia Barnett & Nadia Dowshen

  2. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Sarah M. Wood, Knashawn H. Morales, David Metzger, Annet Davis, Danielle Fiore, Helen C. Koenig, Nadia Dowshen, Robert Gross & Ian Frank

  3. Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 11th Floor, Room 11212, 2716 South St., Philadelphia, PA, 19146, USA

    Sarah M. Wood

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  1. Sarah M. Wood
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Correspondence to Sarah M. Wood.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Koenig is an Advisory Board member for Gilead Sciences. Dr. Frank is an Advisory Board member for Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare. Dr. Gross serves on a Data Safety Monitoring Board for a Pfizer drug unrelated to HIV. No other authors have conflicts of interest to disclose.

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This study was approved by the University of Pennsylvania Institutional Review Board. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study prior to study procedures.

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Wood, S.M., Morales, K.H., Metzger, D. et al. Mental Health, Social Influences, and HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Utilization Among Men and Transgender Individuals Screening for HIV Prevention Trials. AIDS Behav 25, 524–531 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03004-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03004-y

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