Integrating Behavioral HIV Interventions Into Biomedical Prevention Trials With Youth: Lessons From Chicago's Project PrEPare

Abstract

On the heels of several trials demonstrating the efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the recent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the supplemental indication for emtricitabine–tenofovir as PrEP, researchers, advocates, and community providers are calling for the investigation of implementation strategies that combine behavioral interventions with biomedical prevention. The authors describe the modification and integration of an evidence-based group-level intervention into a small PrEP pilot trial with young men who have sex with men. The behavioral intervention and ongoing risk reduction counseling sessions were found to be highly acceptable among a sample of racially diverse young men who have sex with men.

KEYWORDS:

• pre-exposure prophylaxis
• youth
• MSM
• behavioral interventions