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Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention method, but it has been underutilized by women. Anticipated stigma regarding use of PrEP is a contributing factor in the underutilization of this prevention strategy. The current study explored the relationships among PrEP stigma, sex risk (i.e., inconsistent condom use, condomless sex with persons of unknown serostatus, or sex in exchange for money or drugs), substance use, attitudes toward HIV testing, and medical mistrust. Participants were 106 primarily ethnic-minority women who reported recent substance use and agreed to participate in a study exploring HIV prevention attitudes. Within this sample, the majority of participants had one or more CDC-defined PrEP indications. Findings indicate that medical mistrust was associated with perceived PrEP stereotypes and HIV testing attitudes. These results provide some insight into reasons for low PrEP uptake among women at risk for HIV. Implications for HIV prevention with women are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is an effective HIV prevention method, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is underutilized in the Southern US. Many people who use drugs (PWUD) have increased susceptibility to HIV which could be lessened by using PrEP. Potential barriers to PrEP use include lack of awareness of PrEP, low knowledge about HIV prevention, low self-efficacy for HIV prevention, inaccurate risk perceptions, and anticipated stigma. The current study examined predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors that may predict interest in PrEP. The purpose of the current study was to explore factors associated with interest in and willingness to use daily oral and long acting injectable PrEP among sexually active adult PWUD. The data were collected from adult participants (n = 270) residing in Harris County, TX, who self-reported problematic substance use and who reported oral, anal, or vaginal sex in the six months prior to completing the survey. The survey was distributed and completed online via Qualtrics Panels in March of 2022 and included measures of PrEP and HIV knowledge, PrEP stigma, sexual health self-efficacy, experiences of discrimination, health literacy, and medical mistrust. The majority of participants reported circumstances or behaviors that increased their susceptibility to HIV. Findings indicated that PrEP user stereotypes and PrEP anticipated disapproval by others were associated with interest in using daily oral PrEP and willingness to use long acting injectable PrEP. These results provide insight into reasons for low PrEP uptake among PWUD who live in a high HIV prevalence jurisdiction. Implications for HIV prevention intervention are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]