TY - JOUR
T1 - REASSESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF PREP USE GIVEN REDUCED SEX DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
T2 - PERSPECTIVES FROM A SAMPLE OF YOUNG SEXUAL MINORITY MEN
AU - Bundy, Camille
AU - Hall, Casey D.Xavier
AU - Foran, James E.
AU - Jozsa, Kyle
AU - Newcomb, Michael E.
AU - Mustanski, Brian
N1 - Funding Information:
Camille Bundy, Casey D. Xavier Hall, James E. Foran, Kyle Jozsa, Michael E. Newcomb, and Brian Mus-tanski are affiliated with Northwestern University Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Chicago, Illinois. Casey D. Xavier Hall, Michael E. Newcomb, and Brian Mustanski are also affiliated with the Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois. This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01MD013609; MPIs: Newcomb & Mustanski) and through a NIDA-funded cohort study (U01DA036939; PI Mustanski). The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the funders. Address correspondence to Brian Mustanski, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 14-061, Chicago, IL 60611. E-mail: brian@northwestern.edu
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Guilford Press.
PY - 2022/12/1
Y1 - 2022/12/1
N2 - Research has begun to examine sexual behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic using quantitative methods, but less is known about the context surrounding these changes using qualitative methods, including correspond-ing changes in risk reduction methods. This qualitative study, guided by the Integrated Behavioral Model, examines the pandemic’s impact on PrEP adherence among young men who have sex with men in Chicago. PrEP-using participants from a cohort study were recruited into a 90-day diary study measuring sexual behaviors and PrEP use. Between April and Sep-tember 2020, a subset of participants was recruited for qualitative inter-views (n = 28) exploring prevention strategies, including the impact of the pandemic. Although most were highly adherent pre-pandemic, many took fewer pills or discontinued during the pandemic due to decreased sex. Find-ings suggest the importance of counseling for PrEP reinitiation as “seasons of HIV risk” increase, as well as use of telehealth as a facilitator of PrEP use throughout the pandemic.
AB - Research has begun to examine sexual behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic using quantitative methods, but less is known about the context surrounding these changes using qualitative methods, including correspond-ing changes in risk reduction methods. This qualitative study, guided by the Integrated Behavioral Model, examines the pandemic’s impact on PrEP adherence among young men who have sex with men in Chicago. PrEP-using participants from a cohort study were recruited into a 90-day diary study measuring sexual behaviors and PrEP use. Between April and Sep-tember 2020, a subset of participants was recruited for qualitative inter-views (n = 28) exploring prevention strategies, including the impact of the pandemic. Although most were highly adherent pre-pandemic, many took fewer pills or discontinued during the pandemic due to decreased sex. Find-ings suggest the importance of counseling for PrEP reinitiation as “seasons of HIV risk” increase, as well as use of telehealth as a facilitator of PrEP use throughout the pandemic.
KW - COVID-19 pandemic
KW - PrEP
KW - men who have sex with men (MSM)
KW - sexual behavior
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143199663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85143199663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1521/aeap.2022.34.6.441
DO - 10.1521/aeap.2022.34.6.441
M3 - Article
C2 - 36454133
AN - SCOPUS:85143199663
SN - 0899-9546
VL - 34
SP - 441
EP - 452
JO - AIDS Education and Prevention
JF - AIDS Education and Prevention
IS - 6
ER -
