PrEP? That's What Researchers Found Was the Answer From Gay Men

PrEP? That's What Researchers Found Was the Answer From Gay Men

There's some more bad news for HIV-prevention folks out of Science Daily. The outlet is reporting the results of a study of 105 Boston area men who have sex with men in which the participants were asked about various potential prevention methods involving anti-retroviral medication applications.

Here's the breakdown. Of those involved in the study (all of whom admitted to unprotected receptive anal intercourse with a person they knew was HIV positive, or were unsure of the status of the partner in the last year), 44.8 percent knew about post exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Now, PEP has been shown to be extremely effective in preventing new infections, and requires a 28-day course of anti-retroviral medications administered within 72 hours of exposure. The sooner it is started, the better the outcomes, studies show.

The second prevention idea presented to participants was pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and the study found only 20 percent of participants had heard of the intervention. In this program, high risk populations take ARVs for days prior to potential exposure to HIV. The intervention is currently in a large scale study in South Africa, and the United States. Some results from that study are expected this summer, and final study results will be released late this year or early next.

Interestingly, when participants were given information about PrEP and also about anti-retroviral microbicides (which are not even into clinical trials yet), 60 percent said they would use one or both.

Todd Heywood