2016 PREP attitudes in Germany: high awareness and acceptance in MSM at risk of HIV

• Published in: Infection Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 405 - 408
• Main Authors: Spinner, Christoph D., Hanhoff, Nikola, Krznaric, Ivanka, Knecht, Gaby, Kuemmerle, Tim, Ruesenberg, Robin, Schewe, Knud
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Advertisements; Antiretroviral drugs; Brief Report; Condoms; Digital media; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Epidemics; Family Medicine; Gays & lesbians; General Practice; Germany; Health behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV; HIV Infections - psychology; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Internal Medicine; Knowledge; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mens health; Middle Aged; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; Prophylaxis; Risk acceptance; Risk taking; Sexual behavior; Sexual intercourse; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Subgroups; Surveys and Questionnaires; Germany; Prevention; PrEP; HIV; MSM
• ISSN: 0300-8126; 1439-0973; 1439-0973
• DOI: 10.1007/s15010-018-1127-3

Prupose To examine current risk behavior, awareness, experience, and attitudes towards pre-exposure-prophylaxis (PrEP), and to estimate a potential impact on the prevention of HIV transmission among HIV-negative MSM in Germany. PrEP was not officially licensed at the time of survey. Methods Web-based questionnaire from 03–06/2016. Potential participants were informed through social media, flyers, and advertisements. Risk contacts were defined as unprotected sexual intercourse under the influence of recreational drugs in the past 6 months. Results In total, 1208 subjects participated, 342 subjects were excluded for being HIV-infected or non-MSM, leaving 866 subjects to be evaluated in this analysis. Mean age was 37.0 ± 10.4 years. 593 participants (68.5%) were tested for HIV within the past 12 months. A total of 206 STDs in the past 6 months were reported by 144 (16.6%). Aware of PrEP was 748 (86.4%) respondents, while 65.1% reported willingness to use it. Risk behavior was significantly associated with higher PrEP acceptance (OR 2.90, 95% CI 2.14–3.90), as was a history of STDs (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.17–2.91). The use of condoms would forgo 52.3% of subjects if taking PrEP. Sixty-five respondents (7.5%) reported PrEP use. Only 19 (29.2%) had accessed PrEP under medical supervision. PrEP use was reported by 14.8% with > 5 risk contacts in the past 6 months, compared to 6.3% with one risk contact ( p  < 0.001). Conclusion We found a high PrEP awareness and acceptance, especially among subgroups of MSM at highest risk of HIV infection. Structured access and availability of PrEP to this population may have an important impact on the HIV epidemic in Germany.