1. Demand for pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV and the impact on clinical services: Scottish men who have sex with men perspectives.
- Author
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Gilson RI, Clutterbuck DJ, and Chen ZE
- Subjects
- Adult, HIV Infections drug therapy, Homosexuality, Male statistics & numerical data, Humans, Male, Scotland, Sexual Partners psychology, Surveys and Questionnaires, White People, Anti-HIV Agents therapeutic use, HIV Infections prevention & control, Homosexuality, Male psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care statistics & numerical data, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
- Abstract
There is a lack of data on ability and willingness of men who have sex with men (MSM) to self-fund HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We aimed to explore how many eligible (PROUD study criteria) men may want PrEP and how many lower-risk MSM would be willing and able to self-fund this intervention. A self-completed anonymous questionnaire was distributed to MSM populations attending services. Of 377 participants, 81.5% were aware of PrEP. Fifty-three (15.5 %) were eligible, of whom 43 (81%) were very/extremely likely to want it. Of those ineligible, 229 (80%) were aware of PrEP and 106 (37.3%) were very/extremely likely to want it. Of eligible respondents 23% would be willing and able to pay at least £50 a month for PrEP. Of ineligible respondents this proportion was 21%. Our survey revealed high levels of awareness, understanding and willingness to take PrEP among MSM at high and lower risk of HIV acquisition. It indicated that over 70% of high-risk men would be unwilling or unable to self-fund PrEP, should it not be available on the NHS. For lower-risk MSM we estimated that capacity requirements for monitoring self-funded PrEP will be 50% higher than numbers eligible for PrEP. These factors will need to be taken into account when planning services.
- Published
- 2018
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