1. Chemsex is not a barrier to self-reported daily PrEP adherence among PROUD study participants
- Author
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Brian Rice, Ellen White, Ann Sullivan, Sheena McCormack, Monica Desai, Alan McOwan, Mitzy Gafos, David White, Charlotte O’Halloran, and David Dunn
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Crystal methamphetamine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Anti-HIV Agents ,Substance-Related Disorders ,Sexual Behavior ,Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ,030508 substance abuse ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,HIV Infections ,medicine.disease_cause ,Emtricitabine ,Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) ,Article ,Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) ,Medication Adherence ,law.invention ,Men who have sex with men ,Sexual and Gender Minorities ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Mephedrone ,Randomized controlled trial ,law ,Humans ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Hiv acquisition ,Reproductive health ,business.industry ,Prevention ,Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Drug Combination ,Health Policy ,HIV ,Middle Aged ,Adherence ,Family medicine ,Female ,Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis ,Self Report ,0305 other medical science ,business ,Chemsex ,Follow-Up Studies ,medicine.drug - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a novel HIV prevention method whereby HIV-negative individuals take the drugs tenofovir and emtricitabine to prevent HIV acquisition. Optimal adherence is critical for PrEP efficacy. Chemsex describes sexual activity under the influence of psychoactive drugs, in the UK typically; crystal methamphetamine, gamma-hydroxybutyrate(GHB) and/or mephedrone. Chemsex drug use has been associated with increased HIV transmission risk among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) and poor ART adherence among people living with HIV. This study assessed whether self-reported chemsex events affected self-reported daily PrEP adherence among PROUD study participants. METHODS: The PROUD study was an open-label, randomised controlled trial, conducted in thirteen English sexual health clinics, assessing effectiveness of TruvadaⓇ-PrEP among 544 HIV-negative GBM. The study reported an 86% risk-reduction of HIV from daily PrEP. Participants were asked about chemsex engagement at follow-up visits. Monthly self-reports of missed PrEP tablets were aggregated to assess adherence between visits. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to test for associations between chemsex and reporting less than seven out of seven intended doses(
- Published
- 2019