Low-Intensity Outreach to Increase Uptake of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections

AIDS Behav. 2019 Feb;23(2):544-547. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2245-8.

Abstract

We piloted a low-intensity outreach intervention to increase linkage to PrEP care among HIV-uninfected individuals with rectal sexually transmitted infections or syphilis. We sent a secure email message or letter with information about accessing PrEP. Of those sent an email, 12.4% were linked to PrEP care; linkage differed by race/ethnicity, ranging from 0% of Black individuals to 32% of Hispanic individuals (P = 0.019). No individuals sent letters were linked to PrEP care. A one-time secure email to high-risk patients is feasible to increase linkage to PrEP care. Studies are needed to evaluate scalable interventions to increase PrEP uptake in at-risk populations.

Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Implementation research; Outreach; Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP); Uptake.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Black or African American
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Implementation Science
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis*
  • Rectal Diseases*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases*
  • Syphilis / epidemiology
  • White People