Human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness among people who inject drugs in Portland, Oregon

Abstract

Background Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among people who inject drugs (PWID) has demonstrated efficacy yet awareness of PrEP among PWID is low. Methods 2018 National Behavioral Health Survey data from the Portland, Oregon metropolitan statistical area was analyzed with chi-squared tests and generalized linear models to determine correlates of PrEP awareness among PWID. Results 80% of the sample had at least one indication for PrEP and 15% of the sample was aware of PrEP. Factors associated with higher PrEP awareness were: higher education level (PR = 1.083, CI = 1.018–1.153, p = .012), reporting transactional sex (PR = 1.154, CI = 1.019–1.307, p = .024), and men who have sex with men reporting condomless sex (PR = 1.376, CI = 1.081–1.752, p = .010). Lack of a usual source of care (PR = 0.884, CI = 0.824–0.949, p < .001) was negatively associated with PrEP awareness. Conclusions Interventions to increase PrEP awareness need to target groups with particularly low awareness and be delivered in settings accessible to PWID.