Living at the Confluence of Stigmas: PrEP Awareness and Feasibility Among People Who Inject Drugs in Two Predominantly Rural States

We explored knowledge, beliefs, and acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention with reference to stigma among people who inject drugs (PWID) in two predominately rural U.S. states. We conducted interviews with 65 current or former PWID aged 18 years or older and living in Ar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIDS and behavior 2021-10, Vol.25 (10), p.3085-3096
Main Authors: Carter, Gregory, Meyerson, Beth, Rivers, Patrick, Crosby, Richard, Lawrence, Carrie, Cope, Summer Dawn, DeBruicker, David, Levin, Steven, Meeks, Whitney, Thomas, Christopher, Turner, Brooklyne, Abert, Chris, Coles, Haley, Allen, Alicia, Gonzalez-Fagoaga, Eduardo, Grivois-Shah, Ravi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use
Disease prevention
Drug abuse
Drug use
Drugs
Feasibility
Feasibility Studies
Health behavior
Health Psychology
Health services
HIV
HIV Infections - drug therapy
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Homophobia
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Infectious Diseases
Knowledge
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Original Paper
Pharmaceutical Preparations
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Prevention
Prophylaxis
Public Health
Rural areas
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Stigma
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - drug therapy
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Summary:We explored knowledge, beliefs, and acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention with reference to stigma among people who inject drugs (PWID) in two predominately rural U.S. states. We conducted interviews with 65 current or former PWID aged 18 years or older and living in Arizona or Indiana. Most (63%) of the interviewees were not aware of PrEP. They often confused PrEP with HIV treatment, and many believed that PrEP was only for sexual risk or gay sexual risk. Once they understood that PrEP was recommended for PWID, the participants held a positive view of PrEP and felt that a once-daily pill was feasible. Experiences of stigma about drug use remained a crucial barrier to accessing healthcare and PrEP. This was often linked with anticipated or expressed homophobia. PrEP interventions among PWID must focus on education and the confluence of stigmas in which PWID find themselves when considering PrEP.
ISSN:1090-7165
1573-3254
DOI:10.1007/s10461-021-03304-x