Faculty Collaboration Database

Talking to My Partners About PrEP: Factors Associated with PrEP-Related Communication in a Longitudinal US Study of Sexual Minority Men Living with HIV. Prev Sci 2022 Nov;23(8):1438-1447

Date

05/08/2022

Pubmed ID

35524930

Pubmed Central ID

PMC9810111

DOI

10.1007/s11121-022-01372-6

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85129475176 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   2 Citations

Abstract

Treatment as prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have reduced HIV transmission among sexual minority men (SMM). However, little is known about PrEP-related communication in serodiscordant partnerships. In 2015-2016, 965 US SMM living with HIV (M_age = 39; 63% White, 19% Black, 18% Latinx) enrolled in a year-long longitudinal study with surveys every 3 months (2,850 surveys). Multilevel models explored factors associated with PrEP-related communication with HIV-negative partners. Most participants (77%) reported PrEP-related communication. Participants were more likely to discuss PrEP during periods with more sexual partners, AOR = 2.89, p < .001, and group sex, AOR = 1.99, p = .001. Those with more partners on average, β = 0.48, p < .001, and those engaging in other drug use more frequently, β = 0.11, p = .002, were more likely to discuss PrEP. PrEP-related communication was more common for men who disclosed their HIV status, β = 0.22, p < .001, and who had undetectable viral loads, β = 0.25, p = .007. Communication was also more common for those with higher incomes, β = 0.12, p = .02, and from larger cities, β = 0.07, p = .048, and less common for Black participants, β =  - 0.29, p = .003, and older participants, β =  - 0.18, p < .001. PrEP-related communication increased over the course of the study, AOR = 1.16, p= .02. PrEP can confer additional HIV prevention benefits within serodiscordant partnerships, and future research should continue to explore the role PrEP plays in these partnerships.

Author List

Walsh JL, John SA, Robles G, Wesche R, Hirshfield S

Authors

Steven A. John PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jennifer L. Walsh PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Communication
HIV Infections
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Partners
Sexual and Gender Minorities