311564
Eligibility for PrEP among members of a HIV-negative MSM Portuguese Cohort
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METHODS: We studied an ongoing dynamic cohort of HIV-negative MSM who present for testing at a peer-based voluntary counseling and testing center in Lisbon, Portugal (CheckpointLX). Men testing negative are invited to follow-ups scheduled according to their convenience. Evaluations comprise rapid HIV testing and a behavioural questionnaire. Between April 2011 and May 2013, 1593 individuals were enrolled. Eligibility for PrEP was considered one or more of the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute criteria were met. Differences in socio-demographic characteristics according with PrEP eligibility were calculated using the Chi-square test.
RESULTS: At entry 693 (43.5%) reported unprotected anal intercourse, 2 (0.1%) were male-to-female transgender engaging in high-risk behaviours, 215 (13.5%) were in a serodiscordant couple, 45 (2.8%) engaged in transactional sex, 252 (15.8%) used stimulant drugs, 6 (0.4%) had more than one STI the previous year and 27 (1.7%) were prescribed post-exposure prophylaxis with high-risk behaviours. Overall, 950 (59.3%) participants were eligible for PrEP. They reported more frequently gay identity (85.9% vs. 82.0%), migrant status (26.9% vs. 22.4%), lower education (4.3% v. 2.2%) and had a HIV test (86.0% v. 79.8%).
CONCLUSIONS: More than half of these HIV-negative MSM were eligible and could probably benefit from PrEP making urgent to understand feasibility of PrEP implementation to support policies aiming to scale-up its use.
Learning Areas:
Clinical medicine applied in public healthEpidemiology
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Assess the extent of candidates to PrEP among MSM living in Portugal
Keyword(s): Public Health Policy, Preventive Medicine
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the Portuguese AIDS Coordinator, and I am a full Professor of Epidemiology. I have been and remain fully involved with the VCT center and the on-going research that is promoted there
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.