HIV Risk Perception, Willingness to Use PrEP, and PrEP Uptake Among Young Men who have Sex with Men in Washington, DC

Authors

Hannah Yellin, Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW, 20037, Washington, DC, USA. hlyellin@gwu.edu.
Matthew E. Levy, Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW, 20037, Washington, DC, USA.
Manya Magnus, Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW, 20037, Washington, DC, USA.
Irene Kuo, Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW, 20037, Washington, DC, USA.
Marc Siegel, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Medical Faculty Associates, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-20-2023

Journal

AIDS and behavior

DOI

10.1007/s10461-023-04008-0

Keywords

HIV risk perception; HIV/AIDS; PrEP uptake; YMSM

Abstract

Low HIV risk perception is a barrier to PrEP uptake, but few studies have examined risk perception and PrEP uptake among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). We performed a secondary analysis of data collected in 2016 from YMSM ages 16-25 in the Washington, DC metropolitan area who participated in a cross-sectional online survey that aimed to identify strategies for engaging YMSM in PrEP services. Of 188 participants, 115 (61%) were considered eligible for PrEP. Among PrEP-eligible participants who had never used PrEP, 53%, 71%, and 100% with low, moderate, and high risk perception, respectively, were willing to use PrEP (Fisher's exact test p = 0.01). Odds of PrEP willingness were greater among those with moderate/high versus low risk perception (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 5.62, 95% CI = 1.73-18.34). HIV risk perception was not significantly associated with self-reported PrEP use. These findings suggest the importance of risk perception as a correlate of willingness to use PrEP, which is a key step in existing frameworks of PrEP uptake.

APA Citation

Yellin, Hannah; Levy, Matthew E.; Magnus, Manya; Kuo, Irene; and Siegel, Marc, "HIV Risk Perception, Willingness to Use PrEP, and PrEP Uptake Among Young Men who have Sex with Men in Washington, DC" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 2379.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/2379

Department

Epidemiology