February 1, 2021

Changes in Sexual Behavior, PrEP Adherence, and Access to Sexual Health Services Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic among a Cohort of PrEP-Using MSM in the South

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Mental Health and Personal Impact

Keywords (Tags): mental health personal impact, public health

One fifth of men who have sex with men using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the Southern US (n = 56) between October 2019 to July 2020 reported discontinuing or changing the frequency of PrEP use due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Five participants (9%) reported discontinuing PrEP, eight experienced difficulties obtaining PrEP medication (16%), and 18 did not have an HIV (32%) or STI test (43%) in the past 3 months. Most participants indicated a decrease in sexual activity with casual partners, but few reported decreased sexual activity with main partners.

Pampati et al. (Jan 28, 2021). Changes in Sexual Behavior, PrEP Adherence, and Access to Sexual Health Services Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic among a Cohort of PrEP-Using MSM in the South. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000002640