Socio-Sexual Experiences and Access to Healthcare Among Informal PrEP Users in the Netherlands

Mart van Dijk*, John B. F. de Wit, Rebecca Kamps, Thomas E. Guadamuz, Joel E. Martinez, Kai J. Jonas

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of informal PrEP users regarding access to PrEP and PrEP-related healthcare, community responses, sexual behavior and well-being. We interviewed 30 men who have sex with men (MSM) in semi-structured online interviews between March and August 2018. Interviews were analyzed using interpretive description. Informal PrEP users were well informed about the use of PrEP, but sometimes did not make use of renal testing. Participants reported a lack of PrEP knowledge among healthcare providers, which limited their access to PrEP and put them at risk, as they received incorrect information. Although some participants reported negative reactions from potential sex partners, most received positive reactions and were sometimes seen as more desirable sex partners. PrEP healthcare services should not only be accessible to formal PrEP users, but also to PrEP users who procure PrEP informally
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1236-1246
Number of pages11
JournalAids and Behavior
Volume25
Issue number4
Early online date16 Nov 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2021

Keywords

  • HIV prevention
  • Informal PrEP
  • MSM
  • PrEP
  • Sexual behavior
  • PREEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS PREP
  • SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOR
  • HIV-INFECTION
  • PUBLIC-HEALTH
  • MEN
  • PREVENTION
  • BARRIERS
  • GAY
  • COMPENSATION

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