Factors associated with PrEP awareness and use among men who have sex with men who use drugs in the Southern United States

ABSTRACTPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) dramatically reduces HIV transmission risk. PrEP is underutilized among men who have sex with men who use substances (SU-MSM) in the Southern U.S., for whom there is limited research and high PrEP need. Using cross-sectional data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network (CTN) 0082 study, we explored factors associated with PrEP awareness and use among 225 SU-MSM in the Southern U.S. Participants were recruited from community-based sexually transmitted infection clinics, syringe services programs and outpatient substance use treatment programs in eight cities across five Southern states with high HIV incidence. Multinomial logistic regressions examined PrEP awareness and use relative to sociodemographic factors, sexual behaviors and substance use. Results demonstrated overall high awareness, yet limited uptake of PrEP. Younger age, higher education, condomless anal sex and more frequent popper use were associated with greater odds of PrEP awareness. Higher education, condomless anal sex and more frequent popper use were associated with greater odds of PrEP use. Results highlight the need for innovative PrEP outreach to Southern SU-MSM that accounts for age, education and substances used.