The Informal, Non-Prescribed Use of Antiretroviral Medications for PrEP Among a National US-Based Sample of Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

Mance E. Buttram, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
Matthew S. Ellis, Washington University in St. Louis
Krishen D. Samuel, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
Matthew Hayhurst, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2024

Keywords

PrEP; Informal PrEP; HIV prevention; Sexual behaviors; Men who have sex with men; GBM

Abstract

This brief report presents findings on informal, non-prescribed PrEP use among an online sample of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (n = 196). Mean age was 33.4. Participants were Hispanic (13.3%), African American (15.8%), white (63.8%), and other race/ethnicity (6.6%). Informal PrEP users (11%) more frequently reported past year sexually transmitted infections (p < 0.001), group sex (p < 0.001), sex in public (p < 0.01), transactional sex (p < 0.001), ever receiving a formal PrEP prescription (p < 0.05), and ease of finding diverted HIV medications on gay dating/sex apps (p < 0.05). Formal PrEP uptake should be encouraged to mitigate potential negative consequences of informal use.

Citation

Buttram, M. E., Ellis, M. S., Samuel, K. D., & Hayhurst, M. (2024). The Informal, Non-Prescribed Use of Antiretroviral Medications for PrEP Among a National US-Based Sample of Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Cross-Sectional Study. AIDS and Behavior, 29, 1132-1135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-024-04589-4

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.