Factors associated with PrEP adherence among MSM living in Jackson, Mississippi

Abstract

Understanding the determinants of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence is integral to reducing HIV incidence in the United States, especially for those at highest risk. To this end, the present study explored demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors related to adherence among 43 Southern, predominately Black, men who have sex with men (MSM). During the study months, 46% of the sample reported being nonadherent to PrEP. Those with more sexual partners (p = .05), greater self-efficacy for taking PrEP (p = .03), and those who felt condoms were less important (p = .02), were more likely to be adherent to PrEP at six-month follow-up. Further interventions that consider perceived sexual risk, condom use, and adherence self-efficacy are needed to improve PrEP adherence among Southern MSM.

Keywords:

• Adherence
• HIV prevention
• men who have sex with men
• pre-exposure prophlaxis (PrEP)
• South

Disclosure statement

One author reports conflicts of interest, as their institution received grants from Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, and Merck, and they have received honoraria for advisory boards and speaker bureau participation from these companies. All other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This publication was made possible with help from the Providence-Boston Center for AIDS Research [P30 AI 042853] and support from grant [number R34MH104068] (MPI: LW, LKB) from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.